By M, KNA
Five out of seven candidates scheduled for registration to vie in the Kasipul Kabondo by election constituency were cleared Wednesday, as another seven are scheduled for the exercise today.
The five who met the requirement were presented with certificates to run for the Kasipul Constituency by- election, which has attracted 14 candidates.
Two aspirants did not meet the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) requirement to run and while one gave up and dropped out, the other promised to put together and present her papers today.
Philip Aroko, an independent candidate was the first to be cleared by 8.20 am, after which he immediately hit the ground to campaign for the by-election as the campaigns were scheduled to officially start, yesterday after clearance.
Collins Okeyo who was cleared next is contesting for the seat on Movement for Democracy and Growth party (MDG).
He was followed at 11.30 am by Sam Rateng Otiende, running on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) party and finally at around 12.30 pm, Boyd Were, contesting on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket, presented his documents.
Were was escorted by ODM luminaries led by Homabay County Governor, Gladys Wanga, Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Wajir County Governor, Ahmed Abdullahi.
Other leaders on the trail were Senators Moses Kajwang (Homabay), Eddy Oketch (Migori), Ledama ole Kina (Narok) and Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), who is also the ODM Secretary General among other leaders from the ODM party.
Returning Officer, Rebecca Obwaku, explained that the other two candidates who were scheduled to present their documents in the afternoon, Joseph Odongo and Linda Aoko did not meet the requirement to contest in the by-election.
She said Joseph Odongo, running as an Independent Candidate did not have copies of IDs for the thousand supporters from Kasipul Constituency as required by law.
However, Linda Aoko, the only female candidate, promised to return for the registration today with the correct documents despite the hiccup she experienced yesterday.
“We will give all candidate ample opportunities to register and contest, it is not our wish to lock out any of the candidates,” Madam Obwaku assured.
Seven other candidates are schedule for registration today, when the exercise will officially close, ushering in a one-month campaign period
The election will be held on the 27th of November, 2025.
End/Political/Lang’at/Ngatia