Wiper leader, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, is among the seven candidates shortlisted by the selection panel searching for Raila Odinga's running mate.
Kalonzo has been shortlisted after his party nominated him. He was listed alongside Narc Kenya's Martha Karua and Gideon Moi of KANU.
Interestingly, former Emgwen Member of Parliament, Stephen Kipkiyeny Tarus, has made it to the list after being nominated by the National Liberal Party (NLP).
Others are Peter Kenneth and Sabina Chege, nominated by Jubilee Party, and outgoing Mombasa governor, Hassan Ali Joho nominated by ODM.
The committee, led by veteran politician Noah Wekesa, noted that it dropped 13 other applicants after they failed to meet the selection criteria.
"The Committee of Eminent Persons that is mandated with the search for a suitable candidate to be the running mate for the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance Presidential Candidate received 20 applications in response to the invitation for expression of interest," the statement from Noah Wekesa, the Azimio panel chairperson read.
The shortlisting of the seven hopefuls is the first step in the selection process. They will then be interviewed and vetted for suitability.
The selection panel stated that it is looking for a person with integrity, support base and the votes they can consolidate, commitment to constitutionalism, novelty, compatibility with the presidential candidate and loyalty or subordination.
Notably, Karua has been calmly setting herself as the leading preferred running mate candidate in the Azimio coalition.
Meanwhile, Kalonzo - who has openly opposed the process arguing he prefers dialogue with President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga - also changed tune on Friday, May 6, saying his application was sent to the selection panel for consideration.
In the recent past, he maintained that he would not adhere to the interview process by the Wekesa-led team.
“I was Raila’s running mate in 2013 and 2017, do you think Kalonzo Musyoka should be subjected to an interview? This is not America. This is Kenya,” he stated while addressing a gathering at Emali, Makueni on Thursday, May 5.
Political pundits have opined that Kalonzo may have talked himself out of a job by detailing several demands and making controversial statements such as alluding to seeking numbers in Azimio that can impeach Raila if he contradicts their agreement post the August polls.
