Eight candidates have been cleared by the electoral body IEBC to vie for the presidency. They include President Uhuru Kenyatta, ODM’s Raila Odinga, Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party, Independent candidates Joseph Nyagah, Michael Wainaina, Japheth Kavinga, Ekuru Aukot of Third Way Alliance and Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change.
However, there were those who were locked out of the race including Justus Juma of the Justice and Freedom Party, and independent candidates Erastus Nyamera and Truphena Ochwami who did not meet all the requirements.
“2017 was actually the year for the women, but because of the many confusions and requirements by the IEBC, most of us have been locked out,” said Ochwami, “I can say it here, that most of the required documents by the IEBC aren’t needed according to the constitution.”
Nyamera, on his part, failed the test after failing to present his running mate and enough signatures from his supporters and Sh200,000 nomination fee. “There were conflicts between my two running mates and they had not agreed who is going to be my running mate,” he told reporters after he was dismissed.
On Monday morning, the Commission had declined to clear presidential aspirant Justus Juma of the Justice and Freedom Partly (JFP) pending correction of anomalies in crucial documents. Mr Chebukati, who is the Returning Officer for the National Presidential Elections, said the candidate’s degree certificate was not certified among other anomalies.
“We found that the list of supporters is not signed, your Proposer belongs to the Jubilee Party, your Seconder doesn’t belong to any political party and your degree certificate is not certified and the party certificate is not signed by an authorised person. On those grounds I reject your application as a presidential candidate,” Chebukati said after inspected documents submitted by Juma at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Independent candidate Nazlin Umar exchanged tough words with the IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati. This was after Nazlin Umar was told that her name was missing from the official voter register and therefore could not be cleared to vie in the August elections.
Umar accused IEBC of “maliciously” not listing her despite having confirmed her details in the ongoing national voter verification. “I need the IEBC to explain to me why my name is missing from the list of registered voters. I have registered, I have my voter’s card and I even verified.
Nazlin added that her documents were not out of order, referring to the records that showed her name is missing from the register of voters. But the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission urged Nazlin to go through the process before appearing before the commissioners for clearance. “This is not the place to argue, I just need your papers,” Chebukati said before she was ushered out, effectively missing out on the chance to be on the ballot.