I am not sure I know or see the benefits of a large number of candidates. However if that helps let us ignore the pro-Jubilee Propaganda and get to the real facts.
1. Jubilee comprises of TNA and URP. If you count them separately both have fewer contestants than ODM. ODM has never merged with any other existing parties
2. NASA (ODM + ANC + Wiper + Ford K) = 3191
3. Jubilee (JP + MCC + KANU) = 2712
There are small and fringe parties associated with either side. If added the two sides are balanced with advantage NASA.
Maendeleo Chap Chap
This is an Ambulance Party whose owner would have benefitted the patients if he kept quiet. He has however started a dance on a slippery marble floor that will him in a wall head first: When in Ukambani he pretends to be a NASA supporter and once near Thika from Kitui he claims to be an Uhuru supporter. He argues that he cannot support Jubilee because he has a party but will support Uhuru. Then he says he supports Kalonzo. He forgot about modern technology.
Jubilee folks and Kalonzo. Mara he will join them; Mara he is cooked; Mara he won't get a seat in Ukambani.
Here is the truth: Right Now Kalonzo is the King of Ukambani. He has no rival. He has made peace with Ngilu (unlike 2002, 2007 and 2013.) He has absorbed Wavinya and shored up Kangundo; Mutula Kilonzo and Kibwana are with him thus bringing in Makueni; He comes from Kitui and is King as Ngilu learned. Kalonzo has never had it so nice in Ukambani. His influence on Kamba diaspora and their cousins the Duruma is even greater. That is why Mwakwere had to run from ODM to Wiper and thus drove the closing nail in Mvurya's coffin.
Uhuru and Ruto treated Kalonzo very badly and he remembers it. Why they would imagine he would cut another deal with them and lose his self respect still beats me. Jubilee keeps falling for these sensationalist and media savvy conmen like Gideon Mung'aro, Tuju and Mutua. Tuju never delivered the Luo votes he promised Kibaki did he? Dalmas Otieno and Kalausi?
But we shall see. Pundit is the Pundit.
Maendeleo Chap Chap has 3rd highest number of contestant 911 - which is huge - Kalonzo wiper has 630. Dr Mutua brand of politics seem to attract lot of folks and if he wins more seats than Kalonzo like it looks likely - then Kalonzo is really cooked.
An analysis by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shows that the Jubilee Party has 1,801 nominees, including its presidential pick, followed by the Orange Democratic Movement, which has 1,289.Maendeleo Chap Chap (911), Kanu (695), Amani National Congress (639), Wiper Democratic Party (632) and Ford-Kenya (631).