The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has locked out 11 presidential aspirants from the August election.

The commission locked those 11 individuals because they had failed to present their running mate to the commission before the deadline.

Out of the 11, Amani National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Party (DP) are the only parties that did not make the cut, while the rest were independent candidates.

This significantly reduces the number of presidential candidates from 54 persons to 43.

At the same time, IEBC extended the deadline for submission of signatures from May 23, 2022, to May 25, 2022.

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Candidates are required to present at least 2,000 signatures from at least 24 counties endorsing their candidature.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati said aspirants are expected to comply with the new law. He also said a report regarding the submission of signatures will be generated to ensure the process is complete.

Chebukati however denied any chance that the period given for the submission of the signatures will be extended because of the strict timelines.

“Aspirants are expected to comply with the law. In regard to submission of signatures. 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,” Chebukati said.

Chebukati said the commission is following the Election Act to the latter and gave May 29, 2022, as the day when campaigns will officially begin.

“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 said.

The commission will conduct clearance of presidential candidates from May 29, 2022, to June 6, 2022.

IEBC scheduled for Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto’s appearance before it for clearance on June 4, 2022.

His Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition competitor Raila Odinga, will appear before the commission on June 5, 2022, for clearance.


According to the electoral body, the voter registrar auditing is currently underway and will be completed by June 9, 2022.