Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati has distanced himself with the ballot paper tender saga associated with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula.
The Ford Kenya leader is accused of lobbying and influencing the awarding of the tender to Greek firm Inform Lykos.
Allegations point out that Wetangula hosted three Greek foreigners in the country two months before the Sh3 billion contracts was awarded to the firm in October.
Awa David Anderson, Antonio Ramon Fernandez and Gkrekis Konstantinos are said to have been invited in Kenya for a week from January 14, 2021.
Chebukati denied claims that he held a series of meeting with the Kenya Kwanza-affiliated politician in an effort to influence and lobby the open tendering process of the ballot paper to the Greek firm.
“It’s very unfortunate and for those making those remarks, I have never sat with an individual to discuss any procurement process,” he said.
He urged politicians to desist from profiling and maligning his name over the ballot paper tender, saying he had no hand in the awarding of the tender.
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leaders had alleged that Chebukati and Wetangula were the masterminds who solicited for the tender to be awarded to the Greek Firm.
The Raila Odinga-led coalition called on Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate Chebukati on the allegations.
“I want to urge the commission to focus on talking to the electorate on issues and desist from listening to the politicians,” Chebukati noted.
Wetangula, on his part, has since dismissed the allegations that he was involved in the ballot paper printing tender for the August general election.
The Senator claimed that this was a political witch-hunt by his rivals aimed at disparaging his name ahead of the polls.
“I have no interest whatsoever in any paper business least ballot papers for any elections. I don’t trade in paper or printing. I am a full-time politician and lawyer sometimes straying into farming,” said Wetangula.
Wetangula insisting the allegations facing him are nothing short of a smear campaign from his political rivals and the ‘deep state’ aimed at intimidating him.
Azimio Secretary General Junet Mohammed has since called for speedy investigations by the relevant agencies on Wetangula’s relationship with Inform Lykos.