IEBC to Azimio: You Must Pick Raila's Running Mate by Thursday

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) insists that all political formations have until April 28th to submit the names of their presidential running mates.

The commission says the deadline is guided by the Law and its Election Operation Plan that was published in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette on January 20th.

"...the Commission is cognizant of the fact that in the year 2017, the Commission received the names of the Presidential candidates and their Deputies as well as those of County Governors and their Deputies before the date of registration of candidates. The Candidate Registration Management System bears records vindicating this position. Indeed, this presents a solid precedent and it would be unsafe to depart therefrom.”

"It is, therefore, our advice that you adhere to the Constitutional, statutory, and regulatory prescriptions," IEBC stated.

IEBC was responding to a letter by the Azimio La Umoja secretariat spokesperson Prof. Makau Mutua, who had written to the commission seeking more time to submit the name of its running mate.

Prof. Mutua requested the Wafula Chebukati-led commission for more time, arguing that the initial timeline for the submission of names is between May 29th and June 6th.

"The actual timeline for submission of the names of running mates is between Sunday 29th May 2022 to Monday 6th June 2022 when, as per your previous directives, nomination papers shall be delivered by each candidate to yourself as Chairperson of the Commission. Kindly issue the relevant clarification regarding this matter in order to comply with the provisions of the Constitution and also to allay the unnecessary anxiety caused by the erroneous timeline issued," Mutua said in his letter.

Last week, the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition council, which is chaired by President Kenyatta, tasked a seven-member committee to assist in identifying the running mate of the coalition’s presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga.