IEBC extends presidential running mate nomination deadline to May 16

Presidential aspirants and those eyeing gubernatorial seats in the August General Election now have two more weeks to name their running mates.

This is after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) extended the April 28 deadline for submitting running mate names to May 16.

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati announced the changes on Tuesday, shortly after a consultative meeting between representatives of political parties and the electoral body.

“The date for submission of aspirants lists for presidential aspirants and their deputies as well as gubernatorial aspirants and their deputies will be on the 16th of May,” he said.`

“Independent candidates who are vying for president and governor positions, and their deputies, shall also submit their names by 16th of May.”

The representatives were drawn from the Kenya Kwanza, Azimio-One Kenya coalition, Safina party, as well as independent parties.

At the same time, Chebukati noted that the April 28 deadline for MCA, Senatorial and Woman representative aspirants to submit their names to the commission remains in force

“We have agreed that the deadline for submission of names for aspirants to the commission for four elective positions, Members of National Assembly, the Senate, Woman Representatives and Members of County Assembly remains the 28th of April,” he said.

Added Chebukati: “For the other positions, independent candidates’ deadline remains 2nd of May.”

The Azimio team had earlier protested the April 28 running mate deadline, prompting the clarification from IEBC.

Azimio La Umoja presidential secretariat spokesman Professor Makau Mutua had claimed the nomination deadline was not the ultimate condition but just one of the qualifications for those seeking to run for 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.