The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Sunday, July 10, gazetted all candidates vying for various seats, sending shock waves across the country.
In the special Gazette notice, the commission listed four presidential candidates and their running mates, gubernatorial, senatorial, parliamentary, Woman representative, and Member of County Assembly hopefuls.
However, what caught the attention of many Kenyans was the omission and inclusion of some notable names.
While the likes of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, Kevin Kioko-Bahati and Oscar Sudi made it to the list, embattled former governor Mike Sonko and Kiambu senatorial aspirant Karungo wa Thang'wa headlined the list of politicians who were left out.
Sakaja's lifeline
Sakaja, who is eying the Nairobi gubernatorial seat was handed a lifeline, despite a pending case challenging his candidature.
The senator has been in and out of court defending his candidature, after a petition raised doubts on his academic credentials.
In the ensuing events, the Commission for University Education (CUE) denounced his degree from Uganda's Team University.
Sakaja received a reprieve after IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati dismissed CUE, stating that the degree question was dealt with by the commission’s Dispute Resolution Tribunal.
According to Chebukati, the only way to reverse Sakaja’s clearance was by overturning the decision of the tribunal through a court order.
Kenya Kwanza leaders welcomed IEBC's decision to include Sakaja on the final list.
"Johnson Sakaja is officially the UDA gubernatorial candidate for the Nairobi governor's race. His name has been gazetted. Like we said, the ‘system’ will not impose their project on the residents of Nairobi," Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki stated.
Lucky Bahati
The commission also included musician Bahati on the final list of candidates, despite his recent woes.
The politician who is eyeing the Mathare parliamentary seat on a Jubilee party ticket was under pressure to shelve his bid in favour of ODM's Anthony Oluoch, who is the incumbent.
The plan was under Azimio's zoning strategy to tame imminent sibling rivalry that threatens to dent the Raila Odinga-led coalition's fortunes, especially in the battleground areas.
On June 29, the musician blasted ODM secretary General Edwin Sifuna for allegedly telling him to step down. He further claimed that he had been offered Ksh 50 million to drop his bid and support the ODM candidate.
"When Jesus says yes, nobody can say no. I have been the most fought MP candidate. My losing opponent tried everything to threaten me and make sure I step down. But It’s official IEBC has gazetted me," remarked Bahati after the final list of candidates surfaced.
Sonko Out
On the other hand, IEBC omitted former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s name. The commission disqualified the embattled governor on the grounds that he was impeached and was therefore unfit to hold public office.
Efforts by Sonko to salvage his political career have been futile. The electoral body also left out Ali Mbogo's name who had been fronted by the Wiper party as a possible replacement for Sonko in the Mombasa gubernatorial race.
With Sonko out of the way, it is now a two-horse race pitting UDA's Hassan Omar and Mvita MP Abdullswamad Sharif Nassir.
Thang'wa's dilemma
Conspicuously, Kiambu UDA senatorial aspirant Karung Thang’wa was also left out barely days after the High Court ordered IEBC to clear him.
The electoral body had barred him from contesting on grounds of removal from office through impeachment, which rendered him unfit to hold public office.
The court faulted the commission's decision. This court finds no reason to bar Karungo from vying for the Kiambu senator position," Justice Rachel Ng'etich ruled.
