The first aspirant to face the clearing table at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to get the green light for a presidential bid was independent candidate Patrick King’ori and his running mate Winfred Nyang’au.
The duo appeared before IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati on Sunday at the commission’s National tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
They were, however, found wanting on several fronts, with Ms. Nyang’au failing to submit her certificate of good conduct.
The biggest undoing for them came from their list of supporters; out of the requisite 48,000 submitted, only 65 were found to be satisfactory to the IEBC.
“It’s not yet over, we feel lucky today in as much as we have a few shortcomings regarding incomplete paperwork. We might need to fill up the signatures but it’s doable, we have been given a second chance,” said King’ori.
According to the IEBC’s checklist, candidates seeking clearance have to present their national ID cards, proof of academic qualification, proof of at least 48,000 supporters from 24 counties, and a banker’s cheque of Ksh.200,000.
Women, youth, and persons with disabilities candidates however pay 100,000 shillings.
The rejection list grew, with the second hopeful presenting their papers.
Justus Juma and Ann Wavinya, running on the Justice and Freedom Party, arrived at their allocated time, 3 pm, only to fall due to a technicality; they did not give a softcopy list of supporters.
IEBC has allocated the remaining 14 aspirants appointments between tomorrow, May 30, and June 7 to register as candidates.
The successful candidates will be expected to operate within the rules and regulations contained in the Electoral Code of Conduct during the campaign period.
Once cleared, all the presidential candidates will be provided with state security up until the elections are held.