Presidential Aspirants Set To Appear Before IEBC For Clearance As From Next Month
Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, the Kenyan presidential candidate, will go before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on June 5 to request approval to run for president on August 9.
Lydia Kadima 
The news was delivered by IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati during a pre-nomination meeting with all presidential candidates at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Monday.
He stated that all presidential candidates must submit their candidacy papers to the Kenyan Bomas between May 29 and June 6.
On the other hand, Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto will go before the election body on June 4 for clearance.
Chebukati also recommended any presidential candidates with degrees from international universities seek certification from Kenya's Commission of University Education before submitting their applications.
“Aspirants are expected to comply with the law. In regard to submission of signatures, today is the deadline,” he said.
“By 25th, a report will be generated to ensure the process is complete, and this period cannot be extended given the strict timelines we have.”
He also urged presidential candidates to follow the Election Code of Conduct, warning that any violation of electoral laws will be severely punished.
Chebukati also reminded politicians that the formal campaign season begins on May 29 and asked them to be careful what they say on the campaign trail as they try to lure voters.
“We are following the Election Act to the latter. As far as we are concerned, elections will begin on the 29th of Ma; that’s when the official campaign period begins,” he stated.
“Those going around the country, we have asked them to be peaceful in whatever it is they are promoting,” he added.
Furthermore, Chebukati stated that only those politicians who have been impeached before will be barred from running for office if all other options have been exhausted.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession race features fourteen candidates from various political parties, one from a coalition party, and forty others running as independents.
Meanwhile, the IEBC expects the voter register to be completed by June 9.
The Commission also announced that eleven presidential candidates failed to submit the names of their running mates by the deadline of Monday, May 16. He pointed out that they had not explained why they missed the deadline or whether they were still interested in the contest to the commission.
