The public interest, not firms’ profits, should prevail

There is a danger that the IEBC may be unable to work within the remaining five-and-a-half months to deliver the general election.

The court ruling that cancelled the contract to print the August 8 ballot papers has just immensely complicated the IEBC’s work.

Cord challenged the deal awarded to a Dubai-based company, arguing due process was not followed.

The IEBC does not have enough time, it seeks permission to single source, a company is hurriedly sought and agrees to print the ballots quickly, but at an exorbitant price, and the taxpayer bears the burden.

A lot of litigation goes on in Kenya, with companies that lose tenders immediately petitioning for a review.

Unless there is clear misconduct, the losing bidders should not hold important national undertakings hostage in a gamble for profits.

And the courts need to raise the thresholds.

Why should the entire country be at risk of not holding a scheduled election because of some obscure business rivalry?