National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has announced that Jubilee will not allow any involvement from the United Nations in the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking at a meeting of Jubilee Party and its affiliates on Tuesday, Duale noted that a financing deal with the UN would contravene Kenya's Public finance management laws.
This comes after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati announced that they had a financing agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the procurement of election materials, specifically ballot papers and other statutory forms.
Mr Chebukati on Monday stated: “The commission has a financing agreement with UNDP, and in accordance to this agreement, has offered to procure ballot papers and the result forms. This assistance is meant to aid restore public confidence and trust in the integrity of the ballot papers and result forms, as well as address concerns raised by the Supreme Court.”
The National Super Alliance (NASA) had already come out to oppose the move, citing a long-standing business relationship between UNDP and Dubai-based Printing firm Al Ghurair.
NASA Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga stated: "Now they are telling us that UNDP will pay for the printing. Kenyans can pay for it, there is a budget for that. We simply don't want Al Ghurair to print anything."
UNDP has handed Al Ghurair contracts to print ballot papers for elections in Haiti, Madagascar, Libya, Mali, Afghanistan and Burundi. It has provided electoral support in many more countries such as Zambia and Sierra Leone, with the election results contested on more than one occasion.
IEBC is scheduled to meet Jubilee and NASA on Wednesday to address the concerns of the parties ahead of the fresh polls.
NASA has demanded the resignation of CEO Ezra Chiloba among other officials they accuse of intentionally sabotaging the August polls.
NASA supporters have today officially begun street protests at IEBC's Anniversary Towers offices to push for his dismissal.
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