The list of presidential candidates contesting in the August election has significantly reduced from 43 aspirants to 16.


Only the 16 aspirants beat the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Thursday deadline by submitting signatures and copies of ID cards for clearance.

Out of the 16 presidential hopefuls, 10 were candidates were sponsored by political parties while the remaining 6 were submitted their documents as independent candidates.


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That means about 27 more presidential candidates were dropped from the State House race on Thursday evening at 5 pm.

IEBC set the deadline for the submission of the documents on Thursday to give room for the verification exercise, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday.

6 presidential hopefuls from marginal political parties failed to show up at the Bomas of Kenya where the commission was expecting all aspirants to present their documents.


Those who were still in the queue by 5 pm were excused and processed.

Aspirants who failed to meet the deadline cited the high cost of registration. Among the independents who did not meet the Thursday deadline include Reuben Kigame, Faith Wairimu, Dorothy Kemunto and Grita Muthoni.

Political parties that submitted their documents include Raila Odinga led Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition which submitted between 2,500 and 3,000 per county from each of the 47 counties while Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA submitted the required 2,000 signatures from 26 counties. 

Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party presented at least 2,000 signatures each from 24 counties. Justice and Freedom Party submitted signatures from 36 counties while Ford Asili provided from 27.


The next process is the verification of the documents the aspirants submitted to the commission and once the qualified candidate are cleared, IEBC will submit their names to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

EACC and the ODPP will establish the integrity of the aspirants before they are given a green light to contest.