At least 46 presidential aspirants have been cleared by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to run for the presidency as independents in the August 9 General Election.
According to the RPP Anne Nderitu, the 46 have presented their documents to her office ahead of the, Monday, May 2 deadline and had been cleared.
Among the notable names is former military man Nixon Kukubo, who is not new to the State House race. Kukubo ran for presidency in 2007 under the Republican Party of Kenya. Notably, gospel artist Reuben Kigame also registered as an independent.
Also in the race as an independent is Jeremiah John Mwaniki Nyaga, who declared his bid on March 22. Mwaniki will follow in the footsteps of his father and former Cabinet Minister Joseph Nyaga.
On April 29, Nderitu had announced that her staff would be asked to report for duty during the long weekend to facilitate the process of registration of independent candidates.
Independent candidates must meet the criteria given by the ORPP including that they should have been nominated by not fewer than two thousand voters from at least 24 counties each. They must also present a unique symbol that they would use for their campaigns.
The candidates will also be required to forward their name and that of their running mates to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on or before the May 16 deadline to be cleared. Presidential hopefuls must also meet all the Constitutional requirements.
"Establish and maintain a functioning office in the respective electoral area where the candidate is contesting, which must be available for inspection by the Commission at least 45 days before the elections. The address, including the physical address of the office, must be communicated to the Commission," demands IEBC.
Other cleared candidates include:
Kinyanjui Edward Njenga
Otieno Duncan Oduor
Irungu James Kamau
Aoko Benard Ongir
Munga David Chome
Kariara Eliud Muthiora
Ouma Pigbin Odimwengu
Wanyanga Geoffrey Ndungu
Awuonda Brian Oluoch
Kihuha Esther Waringa
Ngigi Faith Wairimu
Kingori Patrick Kariuki
Ng'ang'a Gibson Ngaruiya
Katoni Benjamin Kevin Ndambuki
Odhiambo Kevin Onyango
Kanya Joe Stanley Kamau.B
Githii David Muhia
Kathae Peter Ndonga
Mbugua Benson Mwaura
Mwarania Paul Muriungi
Nyagoko Jacob Oanda
Wanjigi Harrison Njoroge
Nzano Jared Chula
Ngechu Moses Gichuki
Gichira Ptah Solomuzi
Nyangori Dorothy Kemunto
Ng'ani Victor Obote
Mukenda Jeremiah Simiyu
Kamau George Munyottah
Masira Erastus Nyamera
Oganga Stephen Owoko
Obunga Bernard Neto
Kiprono Felix
Nzamalu Samuel Mwangangi
Mbugua Zablon Karanja
Koue Grita Muthoni
Kagumba Samuel Kiambati
Ojijo Ogillo Mark Pascal
Waweru Joseph Mbugua
Munyeki June Juliet
Begum Nazlin
