On May 29, 2022, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) handed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka a political lifeline by allowing him to resubmit signatures supporting his presidential bid. This decision came after the commission had locked Mr Musyoka out of the August 9 polls on a technicality, citing that he failed to present the list of his supporters in the required Microsoft Excel sheet.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati wrote to the party's National Elections Board chairperson Agatha Solitei, stating that the commission has until May 29, 2022, to resubmit the signatures in the prescribed format. Mr Chebukati's letter was in response to a protest letter by the party dated May 27, over the decision by the commission to disqualify its presidential aspirant.
Mr Musyoka was among four political party candidates and nine independents who failed to satisfy IEBC's strict demands of 48,000 supporters from at least 24 counties, proper presentation of supporters' names and copies of their national identity cards. However, allies of Mr Musyoka told Sunday Nation that he had settled for the chief minister post that Raila Odinga had offered him.
Mr Musyoka has reportedly insisted that it be anchored in law similar to the national accord that created the prime minister post in the grand coalition government of former President Mwai Kibaki and Mr Odinga, the latter having served as the premier. Sources further indicate that Mr Odinga has agreed to hand Mr Musyoka Energy and Foreign Affairs dockets.
Wiper vice chairman Mutula Kilonzo Junior revealed the about-turn by his party boss, who had announced plans to run in protest against the naming of Narc-Kenya leader as Mr Odinga's running mate. Mr Kilonzo Jnr stated that Mr Musyoka had decided to work with those who are determined to foster peace and end corruption in Kenya.
Division and confusion had earlier rocked the camp on whether he should be on the ballot on August 9 or join Mr Odinga. The Sunday Nation learnt that while the party Secretary General Shakila Abdalla and chairman Chirau Mwakwere wanted Mr Musyoka to go all the way to the ballot, other party officials pushed him back to Azimio.
