Panel Submits Names of Top Three Running Mate Candidates to Raila

The Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition running mate selection panel has submitted the names of the top three candidates to the coalition’s presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga to make a final decision.

Addressing reporters in Nairobi on Thursday, the panel’s chairperson Dr. Noah Wekesa declined to reveal the identity of the three deputy president nominees, saying they have given Odinga the opportunity to do so.

The panel interviewed 10 applicants on Monday and Tuesday including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Nark-Kenya leader Martha Karua, former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

Others are Murang’a Woman Representative Sabine Chege, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, and former Kenyan ambassador to Australia Stephen Tarus.

The criteria the panel used to rank the candidates include their constitutional qualification, understanding of government, personality, political acumen, loyalty, and compatibility with the coalition’s presidential candidate.

"The panel focused on the candidates' electability for votes mobilization, leadership dependability, and technical expertise in campaigns among others," Dr. Wekesa disclosed.

They also considered a candidate’s strategic significance, and fight against corruption, among others.

“The candidates had also to give the panel their understanding of key challenges facing Kenya and their proposals on what should be the Azimio government’s priority upon taking over,” the panel added.

All members of the panel participated in the exercise and evaluated each candidate, with the final decision being reached by averaging the individual contribution of each applicant. The panel said that the three names were submitted in order of priority.