IEBC Invites Presidential Candidates to Witness Ballot Printing in Greece

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has invited presidential candidates and their representatives to witness the printing of ballot papers in Greece next week.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says the move is part of ensuring transparency and engagement with various stakeholders in the August 9th general elections.

“It was therefore agreed that the Commission invites not more than sixteen (16) people to visit the factory premises to witness the ballot printing process in two (2) teams of eight (8) people each on the 15th and 16th of July 2022,” Chebukati said in an invitation letter.

The group will include one representative for each of the four presidential candidates, two representatives from the election observers group, three representatives from the inter-religious council of Kenya, and one representative from the Political Parties Liaison Committee.

The Kenya Union of Journalists is required to send one representative, one representative from the Kenya Editors Guild, one representative from the Media Council of Kenya, and three members of the IEBC.

“Kindly but urgently, furnish the commission with name(s) and passport number of your representative for purposes of obtaining clearance to enter the factory. Due to resource constraints, the representatives are expected to meet their own cost of the trip including travel and accommodation,” Chebukati added.

Inform P Lykos SA, the Greek company awarded the tender to print election materials for the forthcoming elections, allowed a maximum of two visits since it is a security printing company.

On Thursday, IEBC received the first batch of ballot papers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) amid claims of extra ballot papers being printed to aid rigging. But the commission assured Kenyans that no extra ballot papers will be printed, and that all will arrive in the country via JKIA.

Under the Sh3.49 billion tender, the Greek company is expected to print and ship at least 120 million ballot papers, registration of voters, and election declaration forms, among other items, ahead of the August 9th elections.