Former IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba, on Thursday, revealed how commissioners were fighting for tenders in the run-up to 2017 General Election.
Appearing before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Chiloba made allegations on how senior officials in the commission turned into proxies for tendering companies.
"Some commissioners were pushing for some companies to win tenders. I contemplated leaving the commission after facing difficulties when the new commissioners came in.
"At times, the commissioners even met some vendors without involving me as the CEO," Chiloba told the MPs.
Besides, Chiloba, who was also the commission's accounting officer, refuted claims that he single-handedly ordered for the Kenya Integrated Management Systems (KIMS) kits.
"Allegations by IEBC’s Chair that I single-handedly procured the KIMS kits is far from the truth.
"We discussed the issue in over seven meetings," Chiloba indicated contradicting chairman Wafula Chebukati's account.
He was responding to the audit queries and claims on how taxpayers lost at least Ksh6 Billion in the procurement of goods and services for the General Election.
Chiloba added that the IEBC team approved the direct sourcing of the material used in the election.
"The change of law of elections and the coming in of a new commission changed the dynamics of the 2017 poll.
"With the new commissioners, it was difficult to draw the line between their role and the role of the secretariat. There is no time the Secretariat made a decision without involving the commissioners," Chiloba concluded.
