Ten presidential aspirants locked out of August 8 elections

Ten presidential hopefuls have been knocked off of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) list of candidates who will be on the ballot on August 8 when Kenyans install new leaders.

According to an IEBC list seen by Citizen Digital, the ten candidates including Nazlin Umar, Peter Solomon Gichira, Michael Orenge, Pete Osotsi Odeng, Muthiora Kariara, Japhet Kavinga, Stephen Owoko Oganga, David Munga and Erastus Nyamera were knocked off the list on technicalities after most of them failed to reach the minimum threshold requirements to contest for the presidency.

On Thursday, May 26, Ms Nazlin Umar admitted that she did not have a university degree which is a requirement to run for the presidency or gubernatorial position.

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party will now face seven other candidates, all who want to dislodge him from the house on the hill.

The seven include Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) – an affiliate party of the National Super Alliance (NASA), Mohammed Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change, Ekuru Aukot of Thirdway Kenya, Justus Juma of the Justice and Freedom Party, Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and two independent candidates, Joseph Nyagah and Michael Wainaina Mwaura.

On Friday, May 26, 2017, three presidential aspirants shelved their presidential bids to support Mr Joe Nyagah, a former Cabinet Minister in the President Mwai Kibaki regime.

The eight remaining candidates are lined up for submission of their nomination papers to the IEBC on Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

On Sunday, Ekuru Aukot, Abduba Dida, Raila Odinga and Justus Juma are lined up to submit their papers in that order.

On Monday, Michael Wainaina, Joseph Nyagah, Cyrus Jirongo and Uhuru Kenyatta will submit their nomination papers in that order.

The battle lines for the race to State House are now clearly drawn even as the campaigns for the August 8, 2017 General Elections kick off officially on Sunday, May 28.