Azimio MPs claim IEBC Commissioners wasting public funds on ‘non-essential’ foreign trips

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party Members of Parliament are now accusing three outgoing IEBC commissioners and their CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan of allegedly pilfering millions of taxpayers’ money since September this year.

The MPs, led by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, claim IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati, and Commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Mulu, have embezzled monies on valueless foreign trips.

They claim that the trips have been given as an award to those who ensured that the presidential election results came out in a predetermined way.

“The outgoing commissioners have gone on a rampage by misusing public resources, which have been allocated to IEBC for its operations. We have recorded multiple foreign trips on unspecified missions and engineered to benefit a select group in the commission,” said Wandayi.

The Ugunja MP questioned why the commissioners have refused to proceed on terminal leave as is the norm in other jurisdictions pending their exit from office early next year.

“The President has embargoed foreign travels…we are asking, why is IEBC exempt from this moratorium to engage in a spending spree on non-essential matters?” He posed.

The MPs are now demanding a special audit on how the resources of the commission have been used since elections, claiming millions have been lost.

“IEBC staff, from the Chairman to CEO and directors, are globe-trotting on trips whose value to taxpayers remains unknown. Between the months of September and November alone, millions of shillings have been gobbled up by select groups within the IEBC,” stated Lugari MP Nabii Nabwira.

The legislators revealed that for over three weeks, the outgoing commissioners have been away travelling to South Africa, Malaysia, Dubai, USA and Angola.

The legislators also faulted the move by Chebukati and Marjan to unilaterally award the tender of printing ballot papers to be used in the by-elections to Greek firm Inform Lykos, saying it goes against the regulation that such tenders b given to local companies.

 “IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein should produce the framework contract between the IEBC and the Greek printing firm, Inform Lykos, including duration of the contract, the individual, corporate and country contractual obligations, and the liability costs in the case the contract is breached,” Nabwera stated.