An internal audit of procurement of materials used for the repeat presidential election which was commissioned by IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati uncovered massive irregularities which led to a loss of at least Ksh1 billion before the repeat presidential election.
Chebukati filed the audit report in court as an exhibit to explain why the electoral body's CEO Ezra Chiloba was sent on a three-month compulsory leave.
The audit report showed massive irregularities with inflated costs, lack of contract details, the extension of a contract beyond the stipulated time and payment for goods and services which were not required during the repeat presidential election.
Chebukati's affidavit stated the audit report had implicated Chiloba in all the wrongdoing and irregularities and this informed the decision to suspend him.
[caption caption="IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba"]
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The internal audit reviewed six tenders given during the period of the fresh presidential election, which included for the provision of KIEMs, commissioning of a network for result transmission and BVR Infrastructure Security Monitoring Solution.
Other tenders reviewed included the provision of the Oracle database and security solution, integrated media campaign consultancy and the tender for supply and delivery of storage expansion for the converged infrastructure.
The tender awarded for the provision of KIEMs, the audit revealed that the cost for procuring the kits for the fresh presidential election was inflated by Ksh811 million but the materials would have been cheaper compared to the amount used during the General Election.
“The accounting officer should explain reasons for the acquisition of the services from SIS Morpho at high prices when he was mandated to properly manage IEBC assets and ensure the commission received value for money,” the report stated.
According to the report, the tender for supply and delivery, installation, implementation and commissioning of the network for result transmission, it notes, had irregularities. Such that the service provider indicated that it could only supply 1,000 devices but the secretariat illegally increased them to 1,553.
[caption caption="IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati"]
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According to the audit, the commission incurred a pending bill of Ksh273 million which would have been avoided.
It recommended that Chiloba should explain why he placed the order for 1,553 transmission units when the service provider had indicated they could only supply 1,000.
