The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has barred Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka from the presidential race in the August 9 polls based on a technicality, as he failed to present the signatures of his supporters from 24 counties in electronic format as per the requirements of the electoral body.

The electoral body has cleared 16 aspirants, nine from political/coalition parties and seven independents, who satisfied the requirements and have been given a go-ahead to present their nomination papers from today, May 27 till June 7.

Among the requirements were at least 2000 signatures from at least 24 counties, and were to be submitted in hardcopy and softcopy format on Microsoft Excel, which Musyoka failed to comply with in the proper presentation of supporters’ names and copies of their national identity cards.

He is among four political party candidates and nine independent candidates who were scrapped off the list.

This comes during a time when leaders within Wiper continue to implore the former Vice President to rejoin the Azimio One Kenya Coalition and support the Odinga-Karua bid, after dramatically exiting the formation when he lost the nomination as Odinga's running mate.

Legally he is still bound to Azimio, but in the event that he rejoins the coalition, he is set to face various hurdles as some of the leaders especially from the Ukambani region do not feel he should be given the opportunity to make demands.

Governors Kivutha Kibwana of Makueni and Charity Ngilu of Kitui have vehemently stated that Odinga should not give Musyoka any preferential treatment should the latter rejoin Azimio la Umoja, as he has no say in the Ukambani region given that the two leaders have been toiling hard in their campaigns for the Azimio leader.

Prof Kibwana had demanded that the alliance involve leaders of affiliate parties in any talks with Musyoka.

“Finally, Wiper has decided to join Azimio about two months to elections. Dialogue with Azimio leadership must involve those of us who have been selling Azimio in the region; those who did the heavy lifting,” Prof Kibwana said.

Ngilu on her part is reportedly ready to pick the slack left by Musyoka, and is more than willing to take the Chief Cabinet Secretary post accorded to Musyoka should he fail to rejoin Azimio.