It is a crowded field As 18 Presidential Aspirants Get Clearance.

A file picture of State House Nairobi which is the official residence of the President of Kenya.

The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has cleared about 4,000 aspirants to run as independent candidates in the August 8 General Election, among them, 11 independent presidential candidates.

Those cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to vie for the highest office in the land are;-

1. Peter Onden’g - Restore and Build Kenya Party

2. Abduba Dida - Tunza Coalition

3. Kennedy Mongare - Federal Party of Kenya.

4. Ekuru Aukot - Thirdway Alliance Party.                                           

5. Cyrus Jirongo- UDP Party                

6. Uhuru Kenyatta-Jubilee Party

7. Raila Amolo Odinga-ODM

Others who were cleared to run as independent presidential candidates include; - Joe Nyagah, Erastus Nyamera Masira, David Munga Mwadende , Prof Michael Wainaina, activist Nazlin Omar Rajput, Robert Mukhwana Juma, Joseph Ngacha Karani, Japheth Kavinga Kaluyu, Nixon Kukuboh Jeremiah, Joseph Musyoka Masini and Stephen Owoko Oganga.

Also cleared to vie are 26 governors, 31 senators, 14 women representatives, 215 MPs and 1, 659 MCAs.  The ORPP has also cleared 34 aspirants who have not indicated which position they are vying for. 

Notable politicians gunning for governorship as independents include former Cabinet minister Paul Otuoma (Busia), Miguna Miguna (Nairobi), former Mugirango West MP James Gesami (Nyamira) and the youthful MP Kinoti Gatobu, who was in 2013 debuted as an independent candidate in Buuri Constituency in Meru County.

The number of independents this year is Kenya’s biggest ever, even larger than that of nominees of the two most popular political outfits combined.

Jubilee, for instance has 1,716 candidates running on its ticket and, according to Secretary-General Nick Salat, Kanu has more than 500.

Majority of the independents claim to have been rigged out in the nominations and have vowed to be on the ballot to face off with their rivals, who were handed certificates by their parties.