The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has halted the procurement of ballot papers and other essential election materials for the 2027 General Election following a formal challenge filed with the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
The suspension affects a tender covering the supply and delivery of ballot papers, tactile folders for voters with visual disabilities, the register of voters and statutory forms used to declare election results.
Acting IEBC Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Ruth Kulundu said the procurement process had been put on hold pending the review proceedings.
“Proceedings for the aforementioned tender have been suspended until further notice following a notification of request for Review filed at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board,” Kulundu said.
The commission has not revealed the identity of the party that lodged the complaint or the issues raised in the application. It has also not announced when the tender process is expected to resume.
The development comes as the electoral agency steps up preparations for the August 2027 elections, with the procurement of election materials forming a major part of its logistical plans.
The commission has urged prospective bidders to monitor official communication for updates on the procurement process.
“Prospective bidders are advised to regularly monitor the Public Procurement Information Portal and the Commission’s website for any further updates or communication regarding the tender,” Kulundu said.
IEBC plans to procure 180 million ballot papers
The suspended tender comes as the commission prepares to produce ballot papers for the six elective positions, with estimates indicating that it could require up to 180 million papers for the 2027 elections.
IEBC projects that the number of polling stations could increase from 46,229 recorded in 2022 to approximately 55,000, while the registered voter population could reach 28.4 million.
The ballot papers will cover presidential, gubernatorial, Senate, National Assembly, county woman representative and Member of County Assembly elections, alongside a possible referendum.
Each category will have a distinct colour to help voters identify the papers, with presidential ballots printed on white paper, National Assembly ballots on green, MCA ballots on brown, Senate ballots on yellow, women representative ballots on purple and gubernatorial ballots on sky blue.
The commission’s specifications also include security features intended to prevent counterfeiting and unauthorised duplication.
These include watermarks, ultraviolet-visible IEBC logos, micro-text, unique QR codes, complex printed patterns and serial numbers.
The papers will also have features designed to reveal the word ‘Copy’ when reproduced through photocopying or scanning.
The procurement review now leaves bidders waiting for further communication as the commission works towards securing the materials needed for the next general election.
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