The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission procurement boss has been fired.
Lawy Aura has been sacked after the electoral body cited delays in receiving ballot papers thus putting the August elections in jeopardy.
The decision was made after the board found that the Sh2.5 billion tender for supply and delivery of ballot papers for the August elections was incurably flawed.
Although details of his sacking were made public on Tuesday morning, chairman Wafula Chebukati, in a statement, said Mr Aura was fired on May 29.
“The Commission on 29 May 2017 relieved the procurement director Lawy Aura of his duties necessitated by incompetence that has made operations untenable as we fast approach the General Election,” Mr Chebukati said in a statement.
He also expressed concern about the procurement of ballot papers but assured Kenyans that the situation would be resolved immediately.
“We have noted with great concern the growing anxiety associated with the ballot procurement. The Commission is addressing the issue of the procurement of ballot material with utmost urgency,” he said.
His sacking came just two days after a heated meeting resolved to send the agency's ICT director, James Muhati, on a 30-day compulsory leave following accusations that he had refused to cooperate in an ongoing audit of the voter register, which has about 20 million names.
IEBC, however, assured Kenyans that all would be well before the elections.
“We will continue to engage all political actors and in utmost good faith as we proceed with the procurement of the ballot material and other processes,” the IEBC chairman concluded.
