Raila's Sh1 Billion IEBC tender deal exposed

dennis kibet

June 16, 2017 7:31 AM

Raila linked with multi-billion controversial IEBC tender.

NASA luminary Raila Odinga with IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati (centre) and CEO Ezra Chiloba during their meeting at the Capital Hill on February 8, 2017.

Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga has been roped in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tender saga for the printing of ballot papers for the August elections.

A day after Nasa leaders linked President Uhuru Kenyatta with the prominent Al Ghurair family of Dubai who secured the lucrative Sh2.5 billion tender to print IEBC ballot papers for the August elections, Jubilee leaders on Thursday gave a new twist to the ongoing saga surrounding the matter.

The Jubilee legislators led by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale sensationally claimed that Raila had a close relationship with senior directors of the South African Printing firm Paarl Media (Pty) Ltd that lost out to Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing for the printing of IEBC ballot papers.

Duale said that Raila met two directors of the company- Ben Sachs and Dr Peter Shailesh – three times in December 2015 and twice in April 2016 where they struck a deal on the printing of Kenya’s ballot papers.

According to Duale, Raila was to receive Sh1 billion from the two directors of Paarl Ltd if the Nasa leader helped the South African Company to secure the contract for the printing of the 120 million IEBC ballot papers.

Duale said Raila began the smear campaign against the IEBC after the electoral commission led by CEO Ezra Chiloba failed to award the job to Paarl Ltd and instead awarded it to Al Ghurair.

“It’s about him losing the tender. It’s about him losing the one billion for his campaigns,” said Duale.

The Jubilee leaders have now challenged Raila to produce his passport as proof of whether he did or did not travel to South Africa last year twice to meet Ben Sachs and Dr Peter Shailesh where they apparently made the said deal.

dennis kibet