The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance advisory panel has given the parties within the coalition a 24-hour ultimatum to forward the names of preferred candidates to deputise flag-bearer Raila Odinga.
The advisory panel informed the media that it would be meeting every day until Tuesday, May 10 at the Azimio offices in Nairobi to deliberate on the running mate agenda. On the same day, they will submit the name to Raila for the final announcement.
The committee also appointed veteran politician and former Cabinet Minister Noah Wekesa as its chairman.
Elizabeth Mayo was selected as the secretary to the committee while Paul Mwangi, a close ally of Odinga and an Advocate of the High Court was appointed as the panel's legal advisor.
"The committee shall only consider candidates who are members of the constituent parties of the Azimio OKA. Further, any constituent party that wishes to nominate a candidate for the position to forward their names before tomorrow midnight," Wekesa told the media.
The interview panel also met to discuss how they would be handling various candidates during the vetting sessions.
Question have also emerged as to why Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua attended the meeting despite his boss, Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, affirming that he would not participate in the interview process.
Kalonzo is the most vocal of the running mate hopefuls, having expressly stated that the team would lose if he was not picked as Raila's number two.
The Azimio running mate debate has caught the attention of Deputy President William Ruto and his allies who have termed it as humiliating for Kalonzo to undergo the process.
"Though we are competitors, to subject HE Kalonzo to some humiliating 'interview' is impunity. We must unite to eliminate the culture of political deceit, the hallmark of some politicians."
"Whatever the circumstances every leader deserves some dignity and respect. Heshima si utumwa," the DP stated in a statement.
Other names who are being touted as likely running mates for Odinga include NARC leader Martha Karua, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
Presidential aspirants have until May 16 to name their running mates, according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's revised timeline.
