The first batch of the presidential ballot papers arrived in the country on Wednesday, July 27 ahead of the August 9 contest.

A plane carrying the ballot papers wrapped in 250 pallets touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) a few minutes past 11:00 am.

The ballot papers are being printed in Athens, Greece, by Inform Lykos (Hellas) S.A. company.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said the election materials were accompanied by a monitoring team from Kenya comprised of representatives from various political parties.

“The team inspected security features on ballot papers and witnessed printing, packaging of ballot papers into booklets, boxes, palettes & labelling ready for shipment. They also verified security features on statutory documents printed to accompany ballot papers to polling stations,” IEBC said in a statement.

“The delegation was shown how Inform Lykos company destroys damaged ballot papers, a process they carry out daily using shredding machines.

“The monitoring delegation announced that they are impressed and satisfied that the printing process is properly executed, and the control checks put in place are sufficient to safeguard the integrity of the ballot.”

A total of 865 Presidential ballot paper pallets will be ferried in for the polls using private cargo planes and commercial planes.

According to the commission, the second batch of Presidential ballot papers of 300 pallets will arrive in the country on July 29 while the final consignment of 340 pallets will arrive on August 3.