Six Presidential Candidates have given a condition which organizers of the Presidential debate should meet else they will not participate.
On Sunday, they said the organizers must rescind their earlier decision on a two-tier approach. The six were to hold a separate interview and later President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga takes on each other head-on during prime time.
“Should you still be committed to this discriminatory approach, the candidates and their running mates will have no option but not to participate,” read a letter from the candidates addressed to Debates Media as The Star quotes.
Presidential candidates Prof. Michael Wainaina, Cyrus Njirongo, Japheth Kavinga, Joe Nyaga, and Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance), as well as Abduba Dida (Alliance for Real Change), protested the move.
In the letter, they termed the two-tier approach as illegal and unconstitutional.
“All presidential candidates and their running mates are equal before the law and the Constitution. We confirm our commitment to the debate but without any shade of discrimination,” further read the letter.
The first debate was scheduled for July 10 but if failed to kick off after Uhuru pulled out citing lack of consultation and also a busy schedule.
NASA Presidential candidate Raila Odinga also pulled out after Uhuru pulled out citing lack of structure.
Last week on Thursday, Raila while appearing for an interview with NTV said he is not afraid to face President Uhuru Kenyatta.
However, he cited that his pulling out was because the debate had no structures.
“Last time we were 8 candidates then you are asked a question then they go and by the time they reach the other person it is more than half an hour,” he said.
He added: “We just said that we wanted a structured debate and that’s why we say there must be some agreement. We don’t want a repeat of what happened last time.”
The second debate is scheduled for July 24 while today; there will be a debate on running mates.
Deputy President William Ruto will be represented by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa.