The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has extended the deadline for the submission of the names of the presidential aspirants and gubernatorial aspirant running mates to May 16, 2022.

The chairperson of IEBC Wafula Chebukati announced the postponement of the deadline on Tuesday following the consultative meeting with representatives of political parties.

“The date for submission of aspirants lists for presidential aspirants and their deputies as well as gubernatorial aspirants and their deputies will be on the 16th of May,” Chebukati said.

According to Chebukati, independent candidates who are vying for president and governor positions, and their deputies, shall also submit their names on the same day.

The move gives presidential and gubernatorial candidates in the August general election two extra weeks to name their running mates.

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The meeting drew representatives who met with the IEBC commissioners from Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Safina party and independent parties.

However, the meeting resolved that the deadline for the submission of names for the other elective posts remains on Thursday.

“We have agreed that the deadline for submission of names for aspirants to the commission for four elective positions, Members of National Assembly, the Senate, Woman Representatives and Members of County Assembly remains the 28th of April,” Chebukati said.

He also said that the deadline for submission of names for other positions for independent candidates also remains May 2, 2022.

The postponement comes after Azimio Coalition had disputed IEBC’s requirement that presidential candidates must name their running mates by April 28, 2022.

The commission dismissed Azimio's petition forcing Chebukati to invoke Article 148 of the Kenyan Constitution, which states that each candidate in a presidential election shall nominate a person who is qualified for nomination as president and as a candidate for deputy president.