The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed allegations by Azimio -One Kenya Alliance candidate Raila Odinga, over a plan to publish extra ballot papers to secure a vote on August 9.
The chairman of the commission, Wafula Chebukati, on Thursday clarified that Inform Lykos (Hellas) SA from Greece had been instructed to print 22,102,532 ballot papers, the same number as for voters.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi when he led IEBC commissioners to receive the first shipment of the papers, the chairman reiterated that the commission was ready to conduct the general election in a free, fair and credible manner.
“There is no plan to publish two million more papers as claimed by some politicians. The company that was awarded the contract to print the papers has been instructed to print only 22, 102, 532 papers and all of them will be imported through this field and not Uganda, “Mr Chebukati told reporters.
On Wednesday, Raila Odinga claimed there was a conspiracy to secure vote rigging through the publication of a total of two million extra papers.
Speaking while campaigning in Kiambu County, Raila claimed that his party had received information that the ballot papers would be imported through the Kenya-Uganda border and used at a total of 10,000 polling stations.
“We have information about the August 9 vote rigging, someone sent people to Greece to oversee the printing of two million more presidential ballot papers. “Later they plan to import the papers after being marked to benefit a particular presidential candidate,” Raila Odinga said in the Gatundu area.
“The conspirators have identified 10,000 polling stations where they will debit 200 ballot papers at each polling station to get an additional two million votes,” He added.
According to Raila Odinga, that is why the IEBC maintains that it will not use the voter register because it will provide the full number of people who voted.
“We must have a register, register at all polling stations as well as an electronic register at all polling stations. If the IEBC does not submit a register, then there will be no elections in August 2022, ” Raila Odinga threatened.
Junet Mohamed (Member of Parliament for Suna East) and Ali Hassan Joho also alleged that Wafula Chebukati had been holding secret meetings with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula to thwart the plot.
“Chebukati should explain to Kenyans what he knows about the conspiracies he has been carrying out with Wetang’ula. We are not stupid, we know what is going on, ”Said Junet Mohamed who is also the General Secretary of the Azimio coalition.
But on Thursday, Chebukati stressed that the IEBC is an independent organization and will not be interfered with by any person or institution in the performance of its duties.
