Deputy President William Ruto intends to skip the first ever running mates debate that was slated for Monday, July 17.
DP Ruto reportedly cited reasons similar to those of President Uhuru Kenyatta on skipping the presidential debate.
"The letter inviting the DP to the debate came to the office yesterday. The organisers of the debate have run the event with little consultation despite the same issues being raised by candidates in 2013.
"There was compromise in 2013 because it was a new idea but serious issues were raised...it seems they were ignored as 2017 was being organised," a source close to the DP revealed to NairobiNews.
Debates Media Limited, which was organising the debate, was forced to push forward the presidential debate after both President Kenyatta and National Super Alliance(NASA) leader Raila Odinga pulled out.
The running mates debate was set to bring together NASA's Kalonzo Musyoka and the DP, and will still be held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Karen.
Among the issues to be addressed on the day include matters on corruption and employment.
Other running mates scheduled to appear in the debate are Moses Marango (Joseph Nyaga’s running mate), Joshua Odongo (Abduba Dida’s running mate), Emmanuel Nzai (Ekuru Aukot’s running mate), Miriam Mutua (Michael Wainaina’s running mate) and Eliud Kariara (Japheth Kavinga’s running mate)
