Internal conflict at IEBC - Is this a corrupt deal?

The Kenyan DAILY POSTNews05:35

Fri. July 6^th 2012 - A conflict is brewing at the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission over poll tender. Sources that sought anonymity in the IEBC said a section of commissioners have insisted on awarding the tender for the Biometric Voter registration kits and the automated finger identification system to a South African IT firm Face Technology against the Public Procurement Act while other commissioners have mounted a strong defence.

However, Ahmed Isaack Hassan, the chair of IEBC has refuted those claims saying that none of his commissioners are trying to influence the tender process. All procurement issues are handled by one James Oswago, the CEO of procurement who is also IEBC accounting officer. The Chair said that the process starts when Oswago appoints an evaluation team and a tender committee which reports back to him. He said that neither him nor the commission play a meaningful job in the procurement process other than being briefed by the secretary.

Face Tech, which quoted sh 4.63 billion, was ranked third by the commission‘s technical evaluation committee behind 4G Identity Solution of India and Symphony of Kenya with bids of sh3.76 and sh 3.98 billion respectively.

The treasury allocated sh 17 billion to IEBC for the upcoming election and the commission had decided to use electronic voting in the next year’s general election. Our sources revealed the some commissioners insisted on awarding the South African company after coming from an official exercise in Canada. It is romoured that the decision was reached based on a threat by Canada to withhold funding IEBC after Code Inc, a Canadian company, failed to be shortlisted to supply the BVR kits despite having carried out the pilot project for the commission.

The chair denied the threats terming it as baseless rumours but confirmed the Canadian trip. The commission is yet to register an estimated 18 million voters in preparation for next year’s election. The registration will involve taking of biometric features of all eligible voters, including facial features and finger prints which will be used to identify them at the polling station.

The Kenyan DAILY POST