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A team of electoral commissioners and representatives of presidential candidates have left the country for Greece to inspect the printing of ballot papers at Inform Lykos, in Athens.

Yesterday afternoon, three commissioners: Vice-chair Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi and Boya Molu picked their travelling documents to fly out, accompanied by other representatives.

Apart from the commissioners and representatives of presidential contenders — Deputy President William Ruto (UDA) and Azimio-One Kenya Raila Odinga, tThe 13-member team also comprises  election observers and religious leaders.

Commissioner Cherera said: “We are getting our visas today and will be travelling tonight (yesterday). Those travelling are 13, from different stakeholders, and three commissioners. All the four presidential candidates were given a chance to send representatives but only Azimio and UDA responded,” said Cherera.

She said that in the entourage are two representatives each from UDA and Azimio, an agent from religious leaders, election observers, a representative of Political Parties Liaison Committee and an official from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

Absent from group

Although Roots Party and Agano Party of Prof George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure, respectively, were given slots to fill, they did not send names of their representatives. Each entity is incurring the costs of those travelling.

People Daily learnt that Elections Observers Group (ELOG) is sending its chairperson, Ann Ireri and Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok will represent UDA while Velma Maumo and Ben Agina will represent Azimio.

Cherera said the visit would allow key interested partners to witness how the printing, packaging and logistics of the electoral process are done.

“Because we have had a delay with the visas, we will only be able to see the last part of the printing of ballot papers. The stakeholders will be there for two or three days. All the activities and actions being undertaken by the commission are to enhance the credibility of our processes,” she said.

She disclosed that Inform Lykos has the capacity to print 7-10 million ballot papers a day, adding that IEBC is fully prepared for the polls. “The firm has already started printing the presidential ballot papers”, she said.

Yesterday, the commission said the last batch of ballot papers would arrive on July 29 for countrywide distribution to counties in readiness for the elections.

In the logistical flight schedule seen by People Daily, the ballot papers are being brought on a daily basis until July 29, when all of them should have been delivered.

UDA, which had earlier poured cold water on the itinerary, made an about-turn and said it would send a high-powered delegation.

UDA secretary general Veronica Maina said the party is finalising the details on who should accompany the commissioners to Greece to inspect the printing of ballot papers.

UDA has in the past insisted that it does not have a problem with IEBC or its processes and that it has full confidence in it to deliver free, fair, credible and transparent polls in the six elective tiers.

“We are definitely going to send a team to Greece since we are stakeholders. We are finalising on their details, and hope to have done so by close of the day (yesterday),” she said.

Already, IEBC has received printed ballot papers for various elective seats, except for areas where court cases have not been finalised.

At the weekend, IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati said his team is fully prepared for the elections.

Chebukati, while addressing the media during the burial of his mother-in-law Rose Otolo in Vihiga county, said all non-strategic electoral materials have started arriving at IEBC’s regional offices. He said IEBC has done an election operation plan, adding that they have achieved their time goal and majority of election materials have arrived.

“The team has done what it is supposed to do and we are ready to deliver free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

 Chebukati noted that all non-strategic materials have been received and that distribution to all regional and county offices has commenced.

According to him, ballot papers will be the last to be distributed during the last week leading to August 9.

“All non-strategic materials have been taken to the respective counties. We are just waiting to deliver the ballot papers,” said Chebukati.

He added that ballot papers which have already been printed are being stored at IEBC’s main warehouse in Nairobi.

 Some ballot papers are yet to be printed, for instance those for Mombasa county governorship contest, owing to legality issues.

 He said IEBC is conducting training for all its officials who will conduct the August 9 poll.

The IEBC chairman urged politicians to campaign peacefully, devoid of violence.

 “Let politicians and political parties conduct their affairs peacefully in accordance with the electoral code of conduct, “said Chebukati.

“So far, we have had no major incidents of politicians going against the code of ethics. We urge them to remain that way,” urged Chebukati.