The Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified the tender advertisement published in daily newspapers on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, IEBC Communications Manager Edgar Aswani on Thursday, July 15, stated that the tender was not issued with regards to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum which is currently being deliberated in court.
Mr. Aswani explained that the tender was a framework tender. This means that the tender would be used to source products and services within the stipulated time frame.
"The bidder who will be allocated the tender will supply ballot papers and other election materials for any type of election or referendum held at any time between now and 2024" Mr. Aswani stated.
He further explained that the contracted bidder will only supply the materials when the commission will need them. This will be done through Local Service Orders issued by IEBC.
This means that the advertisement by the Wafula Chebukati-led commission inviting interested parties to make their application via email to the procurement department remains valid.
On February 8, 2021, a five-judge High Court bench barred the commission from conducting the referendum until cases challenging the BBI were heard and determined.
This was because IEBC, which only had three commissioners did not meet the required quorum to run a referendum following the resignation of four commissioners.
IEBC began interviews for shortlisted candidates for the vacant positions on Wednesday, July 7. The process will be run until July 22, 2021.
IEBC appealed the ruling at the Court of Appeal. Through its lawyers, the electoral commission argued that they were not at fault for approving the signatures submitted to them by the BBI proposers.
The electoral commission also accused five High Court judges of exceeding their mandate by stopping the country from going to a referendum.
Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel Musinga on July 2, 2021, stated that the appellant court will deliver its ruling on the appeal cases on August 20, 2021.
