Presidential debate scheduled for July 10 and July 24 may feature President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga only.
This is after the Presidential Debates Steering Committee released guidelines on Thursday citing that only the candidates who command five per cent of support from Kenyans will feature.
“Candidates with less than five per cent popular support showing in opinion polls will take part in separate single pool debates to be conducted on the same dates,” said the committee in a statement.
A member of the committee, Clifford Machoka told Daily Nation that: “These guidelines have been developed in line with international best practice in progressive and developed democracies world over.”
This new guideline presents a conundrum for seven other Presidential candidates who command less than five per cent.
In a poll released by Ipsos on May 30, Uhuru garnered 49 per cent and Raila garnered 42 per cent
As for the other candidates, none of them managed to get the support of above five per cent and could possibly be locked out of the debate.
Those set to be locked out include Thirdway Alliance Presidential candidate Dr Ekuru Aukot, former Cooperative Minister Joe Nyaga, independent Candidate Cyrus Jirongo, Michael Wainaina, Japhet Kavinga Kaluyu and 2013 Presidential aspirant Abduba Dida.
A similar debate for running mates is scheduled for July 17.
In 2013, the debatehad 8 candidates.