A report by the Daily Nation has linked Bungoma Senator, Moses Wetangula, to a ballot papers tender awarded to a Greek firm by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In the report published on Wednesday, July 6, the Nation cited documents which detailed that the firm, Lykos (Hellas) SA Holdings, won the Ksh3 billion contract in October 2021.
It was thus tasked with supplying and delivering ballot papers, a printed register of voters, and other election materials.
Wetangula was accused of influencing the tender awarding process through lobbying and writing to the Greek Embassy to facilitate the travel plans of his confidants to the European country.
The Senator, a co-principal in Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance, was also said to have hosted three Greeks to Kenya in what he termed a development tour.
Documents cited in the report claimed that Wetangula, a renowned lawyer, hosted the three foreigners nine months prior to the Wafula Chebukati-led Commission awarding the Greek firm the tender.
The report indicated that the trio stayed in Kenya for a week, from January 8 - 14, 2021. Wetangula acknowledged inviting the three, appreciating them for “the interest you have shown in wanting to invest in Kenya, and in particular Bungoma County.”
However, Azimio La Umoja read malice in the visit and the tender awarding process, claiming that Wetangula and Kenya Kwanza were out to manipulate votes.
Azimio is warry that Wetangula largely influenced the process past the IEBC to the High Court where embattled bidders lost a suit to bar Lykos (Hellas) SA from being awarded the tender.
"We have now established, beyond any doubt, that Inform Lykos (Hellas) SA secured the contract through the personal intervention of Mr Wetang'ula, who continues to exert influence over the contract," Azimio National Coalition Executive Council Secretary General, Junet Mohamed, stated in a letter to the IEBC, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Junet asked the relevant investigative agencies to launch a probe into the issue, claiming that the Greek firm had not invested in the country as Wetangula claimed.
He further alleged that Kenya Kwanza was planning to use its relationship with the ballot printing company to stuff ballot papers which would be smuggled through the Kenya-Uganda border.
Azimio also demanded IEBC to publicise measures it will use to curb election malpractices.
Wetangula, the three Greek foreigners, his two allies and the Greek firm had not yet responded to Nation’s enquiries.
Meanwhile, Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, issued Chebukati a seven-day ultimatum to respond to his demands.
Through his legal chief advisor, Paul Mwangi, the former Prime Minister lamented that IEBC chair, Wafula Chebukati, had ignored his prior letters and growing concerns.
Raila had asked the Commission to provide him with a list of all polling stations together with their geo-reference, information on Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, training of election officials, and election management and measures taken against IEBC officials implicated in the illegal transfer of voters.
