The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Running Mate selection panel has postponed Raila Odinga’s running mate handover to Thursday.

The chairperson of the panel Noah Wekesa said the absence of Raila who currently is in Tana River County for a campaign tour of the region occasioned the postponement.

Speaking on Wednesday, Wekesa said the panel intended to tender its report on Wednesday but was not aware that Raila was out of town.

"We had intended to send our report today, little did we know that our party leader will be out of town," Wekesa said.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Running Mate selection panel. PHOTO/TWITTER

He revealed he only became aware of his boss’ absence on Wednesday morning when they were preparing to present the panel’s report to Raila.

"I only received this information this morning and our statement was prepared in view of the fact that we were at the same time going to present the report to our party leader," he said.

Wekesa said Raila’s presence is critical during the unveiling of the handover exercise therefore cannot proceed in his absence.

Noah Wekesa. PHOTO/COURTESY

According to the former Kwanza Constituency MP, Raila will be back in Nairobi by Thursday when the panel intends to present its report with the list of the top 3 shortlisted candidates.

"He has assured us that he will be here tomorrow but we are going to be very specific, we are going to call each one of you to give you the time of the presentation of our report," Wekesa said.


The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Running Mate selection panel shortlisted 11 candidates whose names were proposed by their respective political parties to fill in the position of Raila’s running mate ahead of the August election.

The shortlisted candidates went for an interview conducted by the panel at the Nairobi Serena Hotel.

The candidates include Sabina Chege, Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu, Peter Kenneth, Kalonzo Musyoka, Stephen Tarus, Peter Munya, Lee Kinyanjui.

However, Gideon Moi who was also nominated and had earlier expressed his wishes to nominate Kalonzo for the running mate’s position maintained his stand.