Kenya:Raila, Ruto To Face 47 Others On The Ballot
By Samuel Ouma
At least 49 have expressed their interest in succeeding President Uhuru Kenya as his term expires on August 9, 2022.
The Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu has cleared former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto to vie for Presidency on Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya and Kenya Kwanza coalitions, respectively. Safina party’s flag bearer Jimmy Wanjigi was also cleared.
Ms. Nderitu also revealed that the other 46 aspirants had been given the green light to vie as independents after beating the May 2 deadline for submitting their documents.
They include Nazlin Omar, Nixon Kukubo, and Muthiora Kariara, who competed in 2017.
There is also Nixon Kukubo, a former military officer who is no stranger to the State House race. He contested for presidency in 2007 as a member of the Republican Party of Kenya but lost to the late President Mwai Kibaki.
Also in the race are gospel artist Reuben Kigamu and Jeremiah John Mwaniki Nyaga, the son of the former minister, the late Joseph Nyaga.
Independent candidates are required by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to present a unique symbol that they would use for their campaigns.
They must also submit their names and those of their running mates to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the May 16 deadline to be cleared.
All presidential candidates and Gubernatorial aspirants were required to submit the names of their running mates by April 28, but the IEBC extended the deadline to May 16.
“The date for submission of aspirants lists for presidential aspirants and their deputies and gubernatorial aspirants and their deputies will be on the 16th of May,” he said.
