IEBC issues deadline for presidential aspirants to name running mates

Mar 30, 2023 - 08:05

File image of IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati. |Photo| Courtesy|

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a deadline for all presidential aspirants to name their running mates ahead of the August 9, 2022, General Elections. IEBC dismissed a petition by the Azimio la Umoja coalition party, maintaining that Thursday, April 28, as the deadline for the naming of running mates. IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati stated that the naming of running mates is interlinked with the ongoing party nominations which are also set to close on the said date. Chebukati invoked article 148 of the constitution that states, each candidate in a presidential election shall nominate a person who is qualified for nomination for election as president, as a candidate for deputy president. [caption id="attachment_7093" align="alignnone" width="1200"]

File image of IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]

The IEBC boss reiterated that there will be no separate nomination exercise for running mates.

Chebukati noted that qualifications for the positions of president and deputy president are similar.

To qualify as a presidential candidate or running mate, you MUST: Be a Kenyan citizen, be able to run for member of parliament, nominated by a political party and nominated by not fewer than 2000 voters from each of the majority counties.

“It is our considered view that by the time the party nomination window closes, presidential candidates should have nominated their running mates. And thereby the commission further stated that the requirement that presidential and gubernatorial candidates submit names of their running mates by the 28th of April 2022 falls within the commission's mandate,” Chebukati said.

The move by IEBC strains plans by the Azimio camp in the selection of their running mates.

The ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta-led coalition has already formed a technical committee that will select Odinga's running mate.

The coalition's spokesperson Professor Makau Mutua had disputed the deadline set by IEBC claiming it was not the ultimate condition but just one of the qualifications for those seeking to run for the presidency.

Borrowing from the qualifications of a presidential candidate that requires one to be endorsed by at least 2000 voters from the majority of the counties, Mutua reminded the commission that it had set May 23 as the day for presidential candidates to submit the list of 2000 voters supporting their bids.

Equally, Mutua noted that IEBC scheduled 29th May to 6th June as the dates for clearing presidential candidates alongside their running mates before the IEBC chairperson.