IEBC now picks firm to print 2022 ballot papers
Geoffrey Mosuku
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has picked a Greek firm to supply next year’s election ballot papers as local firms once again miss out on the lucrative deal.
Following an evaluation process, IEBC settled on Greece based Inform Lykos (HELLAS) S.A at 7,172.85 Euros (about Sh925 million) at the exchange rate of Sh129.
A report exclusively seen by People Daily, indicates that Inform Lykos (HELLAS) S.A beat 12 other firms to emerge as the lowest evaluated bidder.
They include Dubai-based Al Ghurair Printing that was controversially awarded the same tender for the 2017 General Election.
According to the tender report, Al Ghurair Printing that had quoted US$ 11,424.11 (about Sh1,256,652) at an exchange rate of Sh110 was knocked out at the technical stage for failing to meet the 40 per cent local content plan.
Others who lost include UK’s Go Inspire Solutions US$7,392.71 or (about Sh813 million) for failing submit notarized/certified audited accounts for 2018/19, South Africa’s Uniprint PTY Ltd that did not indicate its price, Ghanaian Aerovote Security Print and Electoral Supply, UAE’s Masar printing and publishing and Dubai’s United Printing Publishing LLC, UAE.
Others UK’s Tall Security Print Limited that had quoted 3889.1 sterling pounds (about Sh580 million) was knocked out for failing to provide ISO certification, Kenya’s Africa Infrastructure Development Company that failed to submit duly filled forms, India’s Seshaasai Business forms PVT Ltd that failed to duly fill the local content plan from and Kenyan firm Kwanginsa Co. Ltd that failed to include tender security of Sh20 million.
However, the report does not indicate why a Kenyan firm, Ellams Products Limited, that had quoted Sh770.8 million was knocked out.
The tender was opened on September 10, 2021 at Anniversary Towers. The committee was chaired by Jacktone Nyonje while Samson Matilu was listed as secretary and Benjamin Kimwei, Helen Kahindi and Boniface Gathee as members.
Already the bidders have received their regret letters with sources indicating that one of the international bidders is planing to contest the award at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB).
“The commission hereby, regrets to inform you that your tender was unsuccessful for failure to submit a notarized/certified ISO certificate or its equivalent for security printing for a recognized authority,” a regret letter sent to one of international bidders reads.
IEBC acting chief executive Hussein Marjan Hussein, in his regret letter dated October 14, 2021, asked the unsuccessful bidders to seek debriefing during the notification period or submit a procurement complaint at the PPARB.
According to its website, Inform Lykos (HELLAS) S.A. is located in Koropi, Greece and is part of the Printing and Related Support Activities Industry. It has 170 employees at this location and generates $33.41 million in sales. There are 17 companies in the INFORM LYKOS (HELLAS) S.A. corporate family.
In 2017, IEBC picked Dubai-based Al Ghurair Printing for the lucrative deal, a move that saw several cases filed in court almost threatening to derail the election.
The tender is titled: Supply and Delivery of Ballot Papers; Register of Voters; Statutory Election Result Declaration Forms to be used at the Polling Station; Election and Referendum Result Declaration Forms to be used at the Constituency, County and National Tallying Centre.
If dissatisfied bidders opt to contest the award, then the country is likely to witness once again a fierce fight for the lucrative deal that almost derailed elections in 2017 as a court nullified the tender awarded to Al Ghurair.
In June, activist Okiya Omtatah claimed the electoral agency was planning to use a single-sourced ballot paper printer for the election after the commission declined to disclose the contents of a single-sourcing deal with a local firm.
He moved to court under a certificate of urgency seeking to stop IEBC from extending a framework contract it entered two years ago with De La Rue Kenya EPZ Limited until the case he has filed is heard and determined.
