Lead image for Firm challenges IEBC tender for election technology.
The procurement of technology to be used in next year’s General Election has been challenged before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, with a Kenyan company accusing the electoral body of discrimination and issuing a flawed tender.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) floated two major international tenders for election-related goods and services.
One covers the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS) and associated hardware, which will form part of the technology infrastructure supporting the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits used for biometric voter identification and results transmission.
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The commission has also floated a separate tender for ballot papers, tactile ballot folders for voters with visual impairment, the Register of Voters and statutory result-declaration forms.
However, Galadirel Investment Limited has challenged the IEMS procurement, arguing that the tender is flawed, discriminatory and violates Article 227 of the Constitution, which requires public procurement to be conducted in a manner that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
In an application before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, the company argued that the tender document does not state the value of the procurement despite IEBC requiring bidders to provide a tender security of Sh30 million.
The company said this was contrary to Section 61 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.