Was Al Ghurair linked to Jubilee or were they malicious allegations by Raila?
While the “golden handshake” has been an accepted part of business for decades, these days it appears to be used increasingly for the wrong reasons – to get rid of a troublesome person quickly and quietly, rather than go to the trouble of launching an investigation, establishing any guilt and then meting out appropriate punishment.
In march 9th , a handshake outside Harambee House was all it took to change the country’s political dynamic, and spark a new round of political realignments among the country’s notoriously fractious elite.
But it was also proved to be an indication of malicious and selfish politics at the expene of taxpayers.
Odinga’s opposition National Super Alliance was salivating at the prospect of making deals with an administration it had previously refused to recognize.
A joint statement released by both men acknowledged Kenyatta as “president” (though Odinga could not bring himself to say it at the press conference) and proclaimed that all Kenyans are now “brothers and sisters.”
However as to the loss of the taxpayer, investigations have proved that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission went flat out to award contracts to certain firms, against all legal and regulatory challenges and cannot account for up to Sh9.2 billion for various contracts it awarded for the supply of goods and services used during last year’s August 8 General Election and the October 26 repeat presidential poll.
IEBC also bought some items at three times the market rate even as it paid for materials that were delivered long after the 2017 election had ended.
Besides Safran which enjoyed inexplicable privilege, IEBC — against myriad court cases and petitions to the procurement regulatory authority — went flat out to ensure Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC, a Dubai-based company which the Opposition linked to the Jubilee candidate, printed and delivered ballot papers.
The reason most Kenyans are however not asking is why Railas allegations of illegal tender awarding has not been followed up since the handshake . Or were they just malicious allegations?
1. IEBC maintains Al Ghurair must print repeat ballot papers. NASA opposed to Al Ghurair. Reason: Printed Fake Ballot Papers too. #IEBCMess
— D I K E M B E (@Disembe) September 26, 2017
In June 2017, NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga claimed that the Dubai firm contracted to print ballot papers had links with Jubilee Party top leaders.
Raila said Jubilee Party leaders had long standing relationship running into more than three years and had held at least two meetings with Dubai firm Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC owners to discuss the award of the tender.
While speaking at the National Elections Conference held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Raila asked the Independent Electoral Commission (IEBC) to put aside the award so as to protect the integrity of the polls.
The announcement had come days after IEBC had warned that there may be no elections on August 8 2017 should the ballot tender be put aside , citing limited time left for the polls. The Opposition chief alleged that the firm hosted Jubilee top honchos in Dubai in February 2016, before having another meeting in Nairobi with the firm officials in October 2016.
Earlier at a NASA presser on the award of tender for ballot papers to Al Ghurair Print and Publishing Company Limited. pic.twitter.com/WWAL0aP27v
— James Orengo (@orengo_james) June 14, 2017
“Information currently in possession of Reactor Review indicated that the firm had a long contacts with senior Jubilee officials for at least three years. Owners of this firm hosted senior Jubilee officials in Dubai in February 2016 during which the ballot printing tender was discussed,” said Raila.
Raila went on: “Officials of the firm were in Kenya in October 2016 as head of the business delegation brought by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during which trip they held further talks on this contract with Jubilee officials.”
He further claimed that the firm has local franchise holders, who are sympathetic to Jubilee in the forthcoming elections. Raila accused IEBC of ignoring their concerns of the critical tender process, stating that IEBC acted in bad faith to re-award the tender to the firm.
He said the decision was “ill-advised and unfortunate” and casts “a dark shadow which could have been avoided over the credibility of the August elections.”
At the spirit of the handshake , Raila should tell us if indeed there was plans by Jubilee government to award Dubai printing company tenders that were not deserved.