IEBC officials are accused of having received bribes running into millions of shillings code-named ‘chicken’ during the procurement of electoral materials/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 8 – Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s CEO Issack Hassan Tuesday appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to answer allegations over the ‘Chickengate’ scandal.
IEBC officials are accused of having received bribes running into millions of shillings code-named ‘chicken’ during the procurement of electoral materials.
Addressing the media after his interrogation at EACC offices in Nairobi, Hassan said that the anti-corruption body wanted to know his role in the procurement of the ballot papers and the officers involved.
“I didn’t ask or receive any bribe in this ‘Chickengate’ matter. I wasn’t even mentioned as having ever received any bribe.”
Hassan also called upon the EACC to fast track investigations and prosecute those found guilty.
Hassan, former IEBC Chief Executive Officer James Oswago, former commissioner and one-time Energy Secretary Davis Chirchir are among officials implicated in the scam.
“I want to assure you that every commissioner involved in the scandal, the staff involved in the procurement and tendering committee have been summoned to shed light in the saga.”
On being asked if the ongoing cases at the EACC over the ‘Chickengate’ scandal will affect the credibility of the electoral body, Hassan had this to say. “What hurts the credibility of the IEBC is the manner in which the matter is being reported. This has been one of the most branded scandals in Kenya. The officials of Smith and Ouzman printing firm were convicted of the offence of conspiracy to bribe public officials to secure the IEBC tender.”
“We have been reporting this all wrong and need to stick to facts and not mere speculations.”
He insisted that the commission is committed to delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2017 and other elections afterwards.
“To achieve this, the commission plans to set up a backup system to avoid the disastrous breakdown in the transmission of election results witnessed in 2013 by establishing a disaster recovery site.”
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