Deputy President William Ruto has now revealed that he did not attend the Presidential running mates debate because the event was being hosted by news anchors supporting the National Super Alliance (NASA).
Speaking during a Thursday morning interview on Capital FM, the Deputy President stated that journalists known to be partisan should have been barred from participating in the debate.
“They proposed anchors who are known supporters of our competitors to run the debate and were unapologetic about it,” he stated.
The first running mates debate that only saw one candidate show up was hosted by KTN anchor Sophia Wanuna and Citizen TV's Fred Indimuli.
The second session, in which DP Ruto and NASA's Kalonzo Musyoka would have appeared was to be hosted by Citizen TV's Hussein Mohammed, while the debates' discussion panel was being led by NTV's Larry Madowo.
Ruto stated that organisers of the debate should have had a discussion with all parties so that he could air out his discomfort with anchors affiliated with the Opposition, and also allow for sourcing of anchors who are objective and politically neutral to host the debates.
He further faulted the Media for last minute preparations arguing that the consultations should have started a year prior to the August polls.
Ruto expressed his disappointment at the lack of consultation with the parties involved, explaining that all he got was a letter from Debates Media Limited informing him of the Presidential Debates.
“I cannot automatically make myself available at the request of the media because I am not sitting here waiting for a presidential debate, I have a job to do, votes to go out and look for and an agenda to drive,” he stated.
He added that there weren’t any arrangements made to consult on the format of the debate, who would be involved and what subjects would have been covered.
The DP further described the media as arrogant for issuing ultimatum and threats to his team to participate in the debates
“Let's have a reasonable discussion with all parties where can amicably agree on terms rather than issuing ultimatums like we will give your opponent uninterrupted 90 minutes to sell his agenda if you don't attend," he stated.
The Presidential debate set for next Monday (July 24) will be hosted by KTN's Yvonne Okwara and Joe Ageyo together with Linus Kaikai of NTV.
