The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday, May 25, disqualified 22 additional Presidential aspirants after they failed to meet its deadline for submission of signatures of their supporters.
The race now has 22 aspirants whose signatures of supporters presented to IEBC were verified before the deadline.
The newly approved list has shown Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's determination to have his name on the ballot after failing to clinch the running mate slot in the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
Kalonzo will now battle it out with his former ally and Azimio la Umoja contestant Raila Odinga as well as Kenya Kwanza's preferred candidate, William Ruto.
Bomas of Kenya on Monday, May 23, 2022
Others who have been approved include David Mwaure of Agano Party, Jimmy Wanjigi of Safina Party, Mwangi Wa Iria (Usawa kwa Wote party) and Prof George Wajakoya (Roots party).
Grita Muthoni of Ford Asili and Justus Juma (Justice and Freedom Party) also met the deadline alongside independent candidates Reuben Kigame, James Kamau and Gibson Nganga.
Other approved independent candidates include Dorothy Kemuyu, Peter Mumbiko, Duncan Oduor, Faith Ngigi, Erastus Masira and Jeremiah Nyagah.
As of Wednesday, all the aspirants were expected to have collected and presented at least 2,000 signatures of supporters from at least 24 counties.
Earlier, the list had been shrunk from a ballooned list of 55 aspirants at the beginning of the race, with 38 seeking to run as independents.
The list of independents has shrunk to only nine aspirants who have beaten the first hurdle in their quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta when he retires in August.
Previously, IEBC disqualified Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and Democratic Party of Kenya's Justin Muturi and nine others from the contest.
The 11 had failed to submit their running mates.
