The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dealt a blow to former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, after it declined his party's request to extend the deadline for picking a running mate.
In a letter dated Friday, April 22, addressed to the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance Coalition Party, IEBC insisted that presidential candidates have to submit the names of their running mates by Thursday, April 28, the set deadline.
Chebukati explained that it was the mandate of the electoral body to set timelines for the August 9 polls, stating that it would help the commission adequately prepare for the General Election.
"It must be appreciated that election is a process and not an event as was elaborated by the Supreme Court at paragraph 224 of its judgment in Raila Amolo Odinga & another vs Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission & 4 others & Attorney General & another. Pursuant to the foregoing, it is worth noting that nomination forms an integral part of the election process," read Chebukati's letter to Raila in part.
Further, the IEBC boss explained that the nomination of a running mate cannot be separated from the nomination of presidential candidates by political parties.
"If a person is nominated as a candidate for Deputy President outside party primaries having not gone through the nomination process with the presidential candidate, that person does not qualify to be nominated as a candidate for Deputy President for non-compliance with Article 99(1)(c) and Article 137(1)(c).
"The nomination of a candidate for President and Deputy President is conjoined and the process respecting the nomination of the two cannot be divorced from each other," IEBC explained.
However, the electoral body noted that there were concerns over the timelines, further convening a meeting with interested political parties today (April 25) to deliberate on the matter.
The running mate timelines by IEBC has been opposed by several aspirants including Safina Party presidential candidate, Jimi Wanjigi, who stated that there was no legal requirement compelling presidential aspirants to share the names of their running mates.
The letter by the IEBC come barely days after the Raila-led faction formed an advisory panel to pick a running mate for the ODM boss ahead of the polls.
Among those who have been fronted for the seat include, Narc Kenya leader, Martha Karua, former Gatanga MP, Peter Kenneth, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya, and Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka.
