Raila Snubs Presidential Debate, To Attend Town Hall Meeting Instead

Presidential contender for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party Raila Odinga has said he will not be present in the presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday.

Instead, Raila and his running mate Martha Karua will go to a town hall gathering in Nairobi’s Eastlands at Jericho Social Hall.

Through Professor Makau Mutua, the spokesperson for Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign, the former prime minister explained his decision to skip the debate by saying he cannot take part in a discussion in which his opponent is prescribing the types of questions that would be asked.

Prof Mutua asserted that DP William Ruto, the presidential candidate for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), demanded that the discussion avoid topics like corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance, which are crucial existential issues for Kenya and at the center of the Azimio campaign.

Read: DP Ruto Confirms Presidential Debate Attendance

Therefore, he claimed that a debate without questions would be an affront to Kenyans’ intelligence.

“He is a man who has no regard for ethics, public morals, or shame. That is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks basic decency,” said Prof Mutua in a statement.

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

Azmio will not join in supporting the Kenya Kwanza leader’s “ungovernable hunger for power,” he added, accusing the DP of growing frantic as his campaign struggles and his followers desert him.

Read Also: Usawa kwa Wote’s Mwangi wa Iria Joins Raila’s Azimio

“Simply put, our main opponent has proven over the course of his career that he will do and say anything in his ungovernable greed for power. As is well known, our opponent has traversed the country hurling epithets at us and other key national leaders, including vile sexist attacks,” he said.

The Azimio campaign also voiced concerns about the debate format, stating it is a bad idea “this year” to have opposing figure gather on stage.

He asserted that debates often give people a chance to hear directly from candidates for public office, comprehend their leadership philosophy, and determine whether the candidate reflects their ideals.

Undoubtedly, this is the reason they chose to hold a broadcast town hall at Nairobi’s Jericho Social Hall with regular Kenyans to solicit solutions to the problems facing the nation and the general population.

“Our flag-bearer Rt Hon Raila Odinga and his running mate, Hon Martha Karua, will answer questions put to them by the people of Kenya openly, honestly, and free from what would otherwise be nothing more than empty self-serving political theater,” said Prof Mutua.