Names of 11 Presidential Aspirants Disqualified by IEBC

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at the Constitutional Commissions & Independent Offices (CCIOs) on April 13, 2022.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at the Constitutional Commissions & Independent Offices (CCIOs) on April 13, 2022.
Courtesy IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday, May 23, disqualified 11 politicians from contesting in the August 9 presidential race. Among those disqualified are Kenya Kwanza principals Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker, Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with presidential aspirants and their representatives on Monday, May 23, IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati stated that 11 were disqualified as they had failed to submit the names of their running mates before the May 16 deadline.

Other presidential aspirants also affected was Jirani Mzalendo party’s Lengala David William with the rest being independent candidates.

ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi at a campaign rally in Nyamira County on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi at a campaign rally in Nyamira County on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
DPPS

The eight independent aspirants are Mbugua Benson Mwaura, Kihuha Esther Waringa, Aoko Benard Ongir, Odhiambo Kevin Onyango, Ndekerere Joseph Kundu, Ngechu Moses Gichuki, Katoni Benjamin Kevin Ndambuki and Nyagoko Jacob Oanda

IEBC noted that Mudavadi and Muturi names were on the list as they had earlier submitted their details to the electoral body before supporting Deputy President William Ruto's candidature.

All presidential aspirants were required to submit the names of their running mates before the May 16 deadline to enable the commission to prepare adequately for the polls.

Chebukati explained that they were working with the set timelines and will, therefore, not allow the candidates to submit the names of their running mates with less than three months to the polls.

The IEBC chair further added that they had moved to the verification stage with all presidential hopefuls required to submit 2,000 signatures from at least 24 counties before being cleared to contest.

“Once the Commission finishes the verification of the supporters, where there is a shortfall of signatures in numbers of reduction of expulsion from the list, the aspirants will be given reasonable time to get the remaining signatures.” 

“If by the deadline of the time you have been given you will not have gotten the signatures, then you will be disqualified from contesting," he stated.

The announcement by the electoral body comes days after it announced that 55 Kenyans had declared interest to vie for the August 9 polls with the majority being independent candidates.

15 of them were party-sponsored candidates while 40 had declared their interest to run as independents.

File photo of Kenyans in a queue waiting to cast their vote in a past election.
Kenyans in a queue waiting to cast their vote in a past election.
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