Wetangula Responds After Being Linked to IEBC Ballot Tender

Bungoma Senator, Moses Masika Wetangula, has responded to allegations that he struck a deal with a Greek company, Inform Lykos (Hellas) SA Holdings, which was contracted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to print ballot papers for the August 9 General Election.

Wetangula – who is one of Kenya Kwanza Principals – dispelled the allegations linking him to the Greek company which was awarded a tender valued at Ksh3 billion.

The Greek company was in October 2021 awarded the tender to supply and deliver ballot papers, a printed register of voters, statutory election result declaration forms and election result declaration forms.The outspoken Senator rubbished claims that he met the firms officials with the intention of manipulating the August 9th poll results.

Responding to a letter reportedly sent to IEBC by Azimio la Umoja team led by Raila Odinga, Wetangula insisted that the said letter is forged.

“If any letters were written on letterheads indicating they are from the Bungoma Senator’s office, they must be forgeries. I have never written such letters. I do not, and I repeat, I do not know the three foreigners being referred to,” his statement read in part.

He argued that linking him to the Greek company is malicious and is aimed at diverting the Commission’s need to address other electoral issues.

“The malicious story is simply a diversion from real election issues of fighting corruption, high cost of living, debt burden, state capture, glaring conflicts of interest in the management of public affairs, and of course our imminent and unstoppable victory come August 9,” Wetangula stated.

The Senator has threatened legal action against those peddling the claims saying he will not settle until he gets to the bottom of the matter.

According to a report filed by media on Wednesday, July 6, Suna East Member of Parliament, Junet Mohamed, reportedly invited the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the issue.

He also asked IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, to issue a comprehensive statement responding to the allegations raised by Azimio.

According to their report, Wetangula had allegedly met with officials of the Greek company in Kenya last year to discuss business before the company was awarded the IEBC tender.

However, IEBC has not responded to Azimio’s letter.

Azimio had earlier sent a demand letter to IEBC asking the electoral commission to allow its technical team to tour the firm and witness how the process of printing ballot papers was being done.

Through his legal chief advisor, Paul Mwangi, the former Prime Minister lamented that Chebukati had ignore his prior letters amid growing concerns.

The Azmio la Umoja presidential candidate had asked the Commission to provide him with a list of all polling stations together with their geo-reference, information on Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, training of election officials, and election management and measures taken against IEBC officials implicated in the illegal transfer of voters.

Further, Raila’s team asked Chebukati to convene a meeting within seven days to address his concerns.