A total of 8 presidential candidates have been cleared by Kenya's electoral body to contest the forthcoming general elections slated for March 4, during which a President, members of the newly created Senate, Parliament, governors for 47 county governments,members of the regional Parliaments and representatives of youth and women will be elected.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday awarded the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta nomination certificates to run for President in the forthcoming polls.

The candidates were required to produce their national Identification Cards, degree certificate, proof of being a registered voter in Kenya, draft of a campaign program among other requirements as stipulated by the electoral laws of Kenya.

68-year-old Odinga who will be contesting the elections under the coalition for the Restoration of Democracy (CORD) has picked Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka as his deputy. Kenyatta who leads Jubilee Coalition has picked ex-Higher Education Minister William Ruto as his deputy.

Odinga and Kenyatta are the leading contenders for the presidency and political analysts say the vote in March will be hotly contested because President Mwai Kibaki is set to retire after serving two terms into office.