Dida, five other presidential candidates locked out of TV debate

The High Court has dismissed a case by presidential hopeful, Abduba Dida, seeking to stop the Presidential debates over claims of exclusion.

High Court Judge, John Mativo, threw out the case by Dida ruling that it lacks merit.

Dida, had moved to court seeking to stop the presidential debates slated for July 10 and 24, 2017.

Dida said that the presidential debates guidelines are discriminatory, in bad faith and contrary to the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

In his petition, Dida said that it is in the interest of justice that all the presidential candidates be afforded same status as by law provided when they are outlining their visions for the country on the 10th and 24 of July 2017.

He said that his rights have been violated specifically for being subjected to guidelines that essentially treat him as a second class presidential candidate.

“A declaration that all presidential candidates are equal with regards to articulating their manifestos and during such public debates,” argued Dida.

The Presidential candidates’ debate is set to take place on July 10 and 24, ahead of the General Election set for August 8.

The sessions will take place from 7.30 pm at Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The running mates’ debate will take place on July 17 at the same time.

The debates are aimed at helping voters make informed choices, promoting national cohesion and steering campaigns towards the quality of leadership rather than personalities.

The debate is organized by Debates Media Ltd, a consortium of several Kenyan media houses.

On Tuesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee and his National Super Alliance (NASA) challenger, Raila Odinga, said that they would skip the presidential debates arguing that the proposed format was not reached through consultations.