It has emerged that the plan to exit the Azimio One Kenya Coalition by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka was already in motion long before the Azimio One Kenya running mate interviews began.

Upon the realization that he would be subjected to an interview for the position that he had expressed interest in since he joined the formation, Kalonzo resorted to submitting his name as a presidential candidate on the same day the interviews began.

Kalonzo sprung into action in response to a directive by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to have their party nomination lists revised in accordance with the two-thirds gender principle, which posed a risk of disqualification from the polls if not met.

The revised lists of nominees signed by the party’s National Elections Board chairperson Agatha Solitei were submitted on Monday, May 9.

The Wiper leader then had a change of heart and decided to appear before the selection panel the next day, defending that he did not want naysayers to accuse him of blatantly skipping the vetting so that he had an excuse to feel disgruntled after he was not chosen.

This was later followed by the submission of the Musyoka’s running mate, Narok senator hopeful Andrew Sunkuli, to the IEBC on Monday, May 16, after Musyoka made public that he was treading the presidency journey on his own.

As of now, his name has been accepted by the IEBC, but his eligibility to vie despite Wiper being part of the Azimio One Kenya Coalition remains pending awaiting clearance by the electoral body.

“Accepting (a name) is clerical so subsequently the team shall sit and deliberate on the same,” a source from the IEBCC revealed to the Nation.

Musyoka's allies remain optimistic that his name will be on the ballot, especially because the party is in compliance with the commission's requirements.

“The name of my party leader as a Wiper presidential nominee was presented to IEBC a long time ago in compliance with the commission’s deadlines.”  Kitui Senator and ally to Musyoka, Enoch Wambua said. 

“Nothing other than mischief would stop this ticket from being cleared to go all the way to the ballot. As a party we are sufficiently prepared to win the August 9, 2022 presidential election,” he added.