Kenya: Stalemate on Presenting Running Mates’ Names to IEBC Unlocked as Deadline Pushed to May 16

Nairobi — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has extended the deadline for the submission of presidential aspirants’ names together with those of their running mates to May 16.

According to the Commission’s chairman Wafula Chebukati gubernatorial aspirants will also submit their names and those of their deputies by the same date.

Chebukati said that the decision was reached following consultative meetings between representatives of political parties and the poll agency.

“As a commission, we are guided by stakeholder engagement which is primary our role as a commission in managing elections is also to be facilitative and this is guided by Article 83 of the constitution, we facilitate political parties so as to realize their political rights and the rights of Kenyans at large,” Chebukati said.

The meeting involved Kenya Kwanza, Safina Party, Azimio La Umoja- One Kenya and other independent parties.

The IEBC Chairman, however, said that the deadline for submission of names of aspirants to the commission for four elective positions- Senate, Members of the County Assembly, women representatives and Members of the National assembly remains April 28.

“This is mainly to give the commission a chance to submit those names to the Chapter 6 institutions so that they can carry out due diligence on the particular aspirants,” he said.

Chebukati stated that independent candidates who are vying as presidential candidates and their deputies and gubernatorial candidate and their deputies who are contesting as independents shall also submit their names on May 16.=

“I want to take this opportunity to remind political parties and independent candidates and all other aspirants that all other dates remain the same as we go towards the August 9 general elections,” he added.

Chebukati urged all the political parties to adhere to the 2/3 gender rule while submitting the aspirants’ names.

He added that each party had its own interpretation of the law in regards to the timelines but they came up with a solution in the interest of the parties and constitutional provisions.