The ongoing debate regarding the identification of running mates for the leading presidential contenders is raising the stakes across the political coalitions.
According to the Constitution, a person qualifies for nomination as a presidential candidate if s/he; (a) is a citizen of Kenya by birth; (b) is qualified to stand for election as a Member of Parliament; (c) is nominated by a political party, or is an independent candidate; and (d) is nominated by not fewer than 2,000 voters from each of a majority of the counties. (2) A person is not qualified for nomination as a presidential candidate if the person s/he; (a) owes allegiance to a foreign state. The qualifications of a deputy president are similar to those of president.