The Presidential running mates debate scheduled for today will go on as planned despite half of the candidates including Deputy President William Ruto indicating they would not attend the event.
Wachira Waruru, the Chairman of steering committee organising the presidential debates, on Monday told a local daily that they would host the remaining four.
Other candidates who have indicated they will not attend the debate include National Super Alliance’s (NASA) Kalonzo Musyoka and running mates for Presidential aspirants Abduba Dida and Ekuru Aukot.
DP Ruto is still campaigning at the Coast with President Uhuru Kenyatta while Kalonzo is out of the country.
Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change Party confirmed that his running mate would also not participate in the debates due to discrimination.
“None of the running mates will attend the debate as long as discrimination is the order of the day. All candidates must be equal and the podium should be set for eight people,” Dida declared.
Mr Emmanuel Nzai , who is Dr Ekuru Aukot’s running mate under the Thirdway Alliance Kenya Party, stated that he will only attend the debate if all candidates are present and treated equally.
“They dismissed us as fringe candidates and now that Deputy President William Ruto and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka have declined to attend they want to use us to sanitize the whole process,” Mr Nzai explained.
The presidential running mates debate has been split into two. Running mates with an approval rating of less than 5 % will debate from 5.30 pm while those with more than 5% popularity will take to the stage from 8 pm.
The event will be held at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) auditorium.
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