Raila Odinga: I will not participate in the Presidential debate

Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga has announced that he will not participate in the upcoming presidential debate scheduled for 27th July 2022.

According to his spokesman Prof. Makau Mutua, the Azimio coalition will instead hold a town hall at Jericho social hall instead.

In a statement released on Sunday, July 24, Mutua explained that the demand by Kenya Kwanza candidate William Ruto to have certain issues left out deviated from the purpose of the national debate. “That is why he has demanded that the debate not focus on corruption, ethics and governance. These are issues at the core of the Azimio campaign; any debate without these issues will be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans,” he stated.

“It would be a colossal mistake to reward such a person with a national debate. We will not assist his failing campaign; he can explain himself and his poor record to voters without our help,” he added.

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed recently said they will send Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino to face off with Ruto if the debate is not well structured. This followed demands issued by Ruto spokesman Hussein Mohamed who demanded that more time be allocated to more relevant matters. On the other hand Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah also said he would not participate unless he is put on the sam podium with Raila Odinga Ruto.

The debate secretariat has however responded and saidthe debate will go on and that it had shared thematic areas with presidential candidates. “We affirm as per the Presidential Debates Guidelines, the moderators will select the questions to be asked, and shall not share the same with the candidates. They will not meet with any of the campaign teams or the candidates,” said the secretariat.