IEBC starts presidential candidate vetting process today, commission chairman Chebukati says
The vetting of presidential aspirants takes place from today, May 29, to June 7, according to the general election regulations published by the commission head Wafula Chebukati on January 20.
The poll commission has published a list of 16 candidates who will be vetted.
Eight of the 16 finalists are running on political party tickets, while the remaining eight are running as independent candidates for the top spot.
Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance), Jimi Wanjigi (Safina Party), Njeru Kathangu (Ford Asili), Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria (Usawa Kwa Wote Party), George Wajackoya (Roots Party), and David Mwaura Wahiga are among those fighting for political party tickets (Agano Party).
Dorothy Kemunto Nyangori, Peter Mubiko King’ori, Jeremiah Nyaga, Jane Juliet Munyoki, Faith Wairimu Ngigi, Eliud Muthiora Kariara, George Munyotta Kamau, and Gibson Ngaruiya Ng’ang’a are among the Independents selected.
In the onset, 37 candidates expressed interest in running as independents.
Raila Odinga, the presidential candidate of the Azimio Coalition, and his closest rival, Deputy President William Ruto, will appear before a polling agency this week to seek permission to run in the August elections.
Odinga will appear before the electoral agency on June 5, while Ruto is scheduled to attend on June 4.
The director-general in Ruto’s campaign secretariat Josephat Nanok stated that they had requested a reservation for June 4.
“We have written to the electoral body reserving June 4 to come before the chair of the commission Wafula Chebukati for clearance,” said Nanok.
Once they’ve been approved as candidates, they’ will be able to fully campaign throughout the final stretch.
IEBC, however, locked out eleven presidential aspirants of the August General Election after they failed to submit names of their running mates by May 16.
Presidential candidates must submit an electronic version as well as a list of at least 2,000 supporters from each of the majority of counties to the IEBC to be allowed to run.
Chebukati claimed that this will allow the poll authority to begin the verification process before the August 9 polls.
