The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Kenya has suspended a tender for the supply and delivery of ballot papers and other critical election materials. This decision was made after an entity filed a request for review at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board. The tender, which covers the supply of ballot papers, tactile folders, the register of voters, and statutory election result declaration forms, is a crucial part of the commission's preparations for the 2027 elections.
The suspension of the tender could significantly impact the commission's preparations for next year's elections. Acting IEBC Commission Secretary and CEO Ruth Kulundu stated that the proceedings for the tender have been suspended until further notice. The commission did not disclose the identity of the party that filed the request for review or the specific grounds raised against the tender. This development adds to the growing list of election-related contracts facing scrutiny or changes as the commission races to put in place the necessary materials for the elections.
The IEBC is seeking to procure ballot papers designed to make counterfeiting, copying, and substitution much harder. For the 2027 polls, the commission estimates that it could require up to 180 million ballot papers for the six elective positions. The number of polling stations is expected to rise from 46,229 in 2022 to about 55,000, while registered voters could reach 28.4 million. The procurement also covers tactile folders, which are intended to support voters with visual disabilities, as well as statutory forms used in the declaration and transmission of election results.
The tender suspension leaves bidders waiting for further direction from the electoral agency and the procurement review process. The commission has advised prospective bidders to continue monitoring official communication as the matter progresses. A new date for the continuation of the tender proceedings has not been given. The suspension is likely to draw attention due to the limited time available for the production and distribution of election materials, with elections barely 10 months away.
The IEBC has previously emphasized the importance of timely procurement, as election materials require extensive preparation, production, verification, transportation, and distribution before polling day. Ballot papers are among the most sensitive materials required for an election, with the commission required to determine quantities based on the number of registered voters and electoral areas. The register of voters is another critical component of the procurement, as it is used to establish the voters eligible to participate in elections.
Under the procurement law, a request for review before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board can interrupt the procurement process when the dispute is being considered. The commission will have to await the outcome of the review proceedings before determining the next steps on the tender. The ballot papers will feature several security measures, including a watermark embedded during manufacture, an IEBC logo visible only under ultraviolet light, and anti-copy features.
The ballot papers will also carry guilloche patterns, micro-text, embossed and unique QR codes containing variable data, and tapered serial numbers printed with multi-colored ink. Each ballot booklet will contain the number of papers corresponding to the registered voters at that polling station. The dimensions of the ballot papers will vary according to the number of candidates, with presidential and gubernatorial papers ranging from A4 for two to six candidates to larger formats for bigger fields.
Key points
- The IEBC has suspended a tender for ballot papers and other election materials due to a review request.
- The suspension could impact the commission's preparations for the 2027 elections.
- The IEBC is seeking to procure ballot papers with advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting and tampering.
