6 Independent candidates to watch out for in August elections

These politicians include incumbent Governors, Senators and MPs who were handed embarrassing defeats by relative newcomers at both the Jubilee and ODM party primaries.

Choosing not to disappear into political oblivion, these politicians coalesced to run as independents and try another stab and appeal to voters.

Of 15,082 candidates who have been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest in the General Election, 3,752 are independent candidates.

Here is a look at 6 top independent candidates to look out for in the August polls.

6. Jack Ranguma - Kisumu (Governor)

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma fought a bitter battle with Senator Anyang Nyong'o during the ODM primaries.

Both claimed the exercise was marred by massive irregularities.

The ODM National Elections Board (NEB) later declared Nyong'o the winner with 164,553 votes against Ranguma’s 98,573 before the incumbent declared he would vie as an Independent Candidate.

5. Oyugi Magwanga - Homa Bay (Governor)

Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga was involved in a chaotic ODM nominations gubernatorial contest with Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti.

Police were forced to fire shots in the air to quell chaos that erupted in Homa Bay following the declaration of Awiti winner in the ODM nominations.

County returning officer Erastus Otieno said Awiti won with 46,346 votes against Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga's 14,661.

Magwanga will now vie as an independent for Governor in August.

4. David Musila - Kitui (Governor)

Kitui Senator David Musila early this month declared he will run for governor as an independent candidate after losing in the Wiper nominations.

Malombe was declared winner after garnering 88,382 votes while Musila secured 74,308 votes.

The senator announced he has resigned from Wiper as a member and party national chairman.

He accused party leader Kalonzo Musyoka of engineering his defeat in the race for the Wiper ticket.

3. Kinuthia Mbugua - Nakuru (Governor)

The battle for the Nakuru governor’s seat in the August 8 elections is set to be a heated race after the incumbent Kinuthia Mbugua this month officially announced he will defend the seat as an independent candidate.

Governor Mbugua said he was not satisfied with the way his appeal was dealt with by the Jubilee tribunal prompting him to go independent.

Mr Kinyanjui won the Jubilee ticket after polling 216,385 votes while Mr Mbugua garnered 150,137 votes.

2. William Kabogo - Kiambu (Governor)

On May 14, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo that he will run as an independent candidate.

Addressing journalists, Kabogo said the decision was reached after major consultations with the residents of the County and his family members.

Kabogo said the outcome in Jubilee Primaries where he was defeated by a landslide by Ferdinand Waititu didn’t reflect the will of the people since it was marred by massive irregularities.

Waititu garnered 353,604 votes, while Kabogo got 69,916 votes.

1. Paul Otuoma - Busia (Governor)

Busia is set for an epic gubernatorial showdown between incumbent Sospeter Ojaamong and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma.

In the shambolic ODM gubernatorial primaries held in April, Ojaamong garnered 92,358 votes against Otuoma’s 63,752 votes.

However, Otuoma immediately rejected the results claiming that the elections were stolen.

Otuoma later formally resigned from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and declared he will be on the ballot in August as he aims to be the next Busia Governor.