The Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u confirmed that there are about 4,000 independent candidates.
This, she said, is an increase from 350 independent candidates in 2013 general elections.
Ms Ndung’u said her office cannot however provide a breakdown of the candidates in the different elective positions up for grabs in the elections.
Majority of those running as independents had unsuccessfully attempted to win party tickets.
Some of those who have defected are bigwigs from the ruling Jubilee and ODM.
It is this big number that forced Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to extend the clearance of the independent candidates.
It is the 2010 promulgation of the constitution that saw the introduction of independent candidacy in general election coming into play in 2013 which has become a savior for some of the big names that were ousted in the party primaries.
These include Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua, Kirinyaga Joseph Ndathi both from Jubilee and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma formerly of ODM whose controversial loss to Busia Governor Sosepeter Ojamoong made him declare that he will be going for the position as an independent candidate.
Ms Ndung’u said her office has received about four candidates seeking to break the two horse race of country’s top job eyed by incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA’s Raila Odinga.
