Mudavadi, Muturi Among 11 Presidential Aspirants Disqualified by IEBC

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has disqualified 11 presidential aspirants after they failed to beat the May 16th deadline of submitting the names of their running mates.

Among those disqualified are Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party (DP).

Mudavadi and Muturi had earlier declared their bids for the presidency before shelving their ambitions to back Deputy President William Ruto under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The other nine presidential aspirants who have been knocked out of the race were independent candidates. They include 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.

The disqualification of the 11 candidates cuts the number of those seeking to succeed President Kenyatta from 54 down to 43, according to Citizen Digital. The remaining presidential aspirants have until May 25th to submit at least 2,000 signatures from across 24 counties endorsing their candidature. 

“IEBC will then conduct clearance of presidential aspirants from May 29th to June 6th, while May 29th marks the commencement of the official campaign period. We are following the Election Act to the latter. As far as we are concerned, elections will begin on the 29th of May, that's when the official campaign period begins,” IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati said.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential flag bearer William Ruto is scheduled to appear before IEBC on June 4th for clearance while his Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition counterpart Raila Odinga will meet to meet the electoral commission on June 5th.