Ballots for Kenya's March 4th general elections will be ready on time, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan announced Friday (January 4th).

Smith and Ouzman, the UK firm contracted to print ballot papers and other election materials, has properly subcontracted two companies, Hassan said, according to Kenya's Daily Nation.

"In the award of the tender, Smith and Ouzman made it very clear that within three weeks, when printing, packaging and shipping will take place, they were going to have two strategic partners," Hassan said.

Hassan's statement follows allegations by another UK firm, Aero Vote Limited, that the materials could not be prepared on time by a single firm. Aero Vote had also competed for the printing tender.

Smith and Ouzman will receive 3 billion shillings ($35 million) for the printing and preparation of roughly 120 million ballot papers.