The Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) finalized candidate clearances for Vihiga County's August 9 general election contests, clearing 17 Senate aspirants and parliamentary candidates on Sunday. County returning officer Peter Tiyo oversaw the process at Chavakali High School, where Amani National Congress (ANC) candidate Kennedy Butiko became the first to receive certification.
Butiko, seeking to succeed incumbent George Khaniri who is running for governor on UDP ticket, stated, "We are happy to have been cleared today by IEBC, next is we go on the ground and peacefully seek votes from people of Vihiga." His clearance marked the start of formal campaign preparations for the Senate race, which includes 17 candidates vying for the seat.
Other cleared candidates included DAP-K's Leonard Ongadi, who emphasized the importance of "peaceful campaigns and respect from competitors." However, MDG party's Kennedy Imbuki faced delays when the IEBC system malfunctioned for over an hour, halting the process as officials addressed technical issues.
The clearance process, mandated under Election (General) Regulations 2012, requires candidates to submit voter registration documents, resign from public office if applicable, and verify eligibility. Tiyo confirmed the procedure is ongoing across the county, stating, "We will ensure each aspirant gets time to present their papers in a friendly environment as required." The final clearance deadline is June 7, with 12 parliamentary candidates competing in Sabatia constituency alone.
