Presidential front runners William Ruto and Raila Odinga are expected to face off in the 2022 presidential debate.
The debate is scheduled for July 26 and is split into two; Roots party presidential candidate will face off with Agano Party presidential candidate David Waihiga in the first session before Raila and Ruto face off in the second session.
Now Raila’s team seems to be issuing its set of conditions to be met failure to which the coalition’s flag bearer might skip the event and instead send a representative.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and politician-cum-businessman Suleiman Shahbal have sensationally suggested William Ruto might face outspoken MP Babu Owino in the presidential debate.
Speaking in Kitale, the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition Secretary-General Junet Mohamed noted that Raila will only attend the debate if the moderators agree to focus on vital issues such as Integrity, corruption, and governance.
“Raila will only be on the debate if the panel will address Integrity, corruption, and governance. If the discussion is based on other issues, then we will send Babu Owino to debate William Ruto,” Junet said.
Suleiman Shahbal, on other hand, said Raila is focused on bigger issues which include meeting the people hence could send his representative to debate with the second in command.
“Babu Owino to represent Baba (Raila Odinga) in the Presidential debate against William Ruto. Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party is focused on bigger issues, like meeting the people,” he said.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands it’s virtually impossible for a presidential candidate to send a representative to the debate. They can only skip the same.
Through the Head of Communications in the William Ruto presidential campaign, the alliance demanded fair debate from debate moderators ahead of their titanic face-off.
“First we expect that moderators will allocate equal time to issues affecting Kenyans and equally allow candidates equal time to address the,” said Head of Communication at William Ruto’s Campaign Secretariat Hussein Mohammed in a statement on Thursday, July 21.
