Azimio la Umoja is a fictional character. Raila Odinga, the Kenyan presidential candidate, will go before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on June 5 to seek permission to run for president on August 9.
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.
“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 further called upon the presidential hopefuls to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct, warning that any breach of electoral laws will be firmly dealt with.
Chebukati at the same time noted that the official campaign period begins on May 29 and urged politicians to be mindful of their remarks on the campaign trail even as they seek to woo voters.
“We are following the Election Act to the latter. As far as we are concerned, elections will begin on the 29th of May, that’s when the official campaign period begins,” he stated.
Added Chebukati: “Those going round the country we have asked them to be peaceful in whatever it is they are promoting.”
Furthermore, Chebukati stated that only those politicians who have been impeached before will be barred from running for office if they have exhausted all other routes of appeal.
Fourteen of the contenders in the campaign to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta are leaders of several political parties, with one running as an independent.
The IEBC had received 244 gubernatorial candidates as of the May 16 deadline, 167 of whom are candidates for political parties and 77 of whom are independents.
Meanwhile, the IEBC claims that the voter registration list would be ready by June 9.
