Opposition slams IEBC officials' foreign trips as election preparations fall behind schedule

Opposition slams IEBC officials' foreign trips as election preparations fall behind schedule

The group acknowledged that court cases could slow down procurement activities but maintained that IEBC should also take responsibility for delays caused by its own decisions rather than shifting blame to the courts.

The United Alternative Government has dismissed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) claims that court cases over election technology could disrupt preparations for the 2027 General Election, arguing that the commission's own actions, including the absence of key officials, are also putting the process at risk.

In a statement on Wednesday, the group acknowledged that court cases could slow down procurement activities but maintained that IEBC should also take responsibility for delays caused by its own decisions rather than shifting blame to the courts.

The group said the commission was already behind schedule on several key milestones required to support an effective Election Operations Plan, raising concerns over its ability to deliver a credible election within the available time.

It questioned why senior officials, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Procurement, were out of the country on missions that could have been postponed, yet their roles were central to the award of the election technology tender.

The United Alternative Government argued that their absence at such a critical stage reflected misplaced priorities and raised questions over the commission's commitment to speeding up preparations for the 2027 polls.

The group further claimed that the election technology tender had been put on hold to allow members of the evaluation committee to travel outside the country.

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It described the decision as regrettable, saying the commission appeared not to share Kenyans' concerns over the limited time remaining before the next General Election.

"The Commission cannot, on the one hand, plead with the courts to speed up cases, and on the other hand, freeze its own processes for foreign travel," the group said.

The political outfit also revisited concerns it had raised last month over the cost of the election technology tender, warning IEBC against awarding the contract at inflated prices at the expense of taxpayers.

It said some bidders of high repute had submitted bids that fell within the budgetary allocation provided for in the approved procurement plan.

The group cautioned that awarding the contract at a higher price despite the availability of compliant and responsive bids within the approved budget would amount to a waste of public funds.

"Any award made at prices above that allocation, where compliant and responsive bids within budget exist, will be viewed by Kenyans as a deliberate waste of public resources, and we will not hesitate to demand full accountability," the group said.

The United Alternative Government called on IEBC to immediately recall all officers involved in the procurement exercise and resume the evaluation of the election technology tender without further delays.

It also demanded that the procurement process be conducted openly, fairly and in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

The group maintained that the commission must take responsibility for its decisions as preparations for the 2027 General Election continue, warning that Kenyans were watching how the process was being handled.

"Kenyans are watching, and history will judge every officer entrusted with this responsibility," it said.