Presidential candidates and their deputies challenged to attend debates

Presidential candidates and their running mates have been challenged not to skip the debates set for today (Monday, July 17, 2017) and Monday, July 24, 2017.

Speaking at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) grounds (the venue of the debates), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman, Francis ole Kaparo, and Nairobi gubernatorial candidate, Miguna Miguna, the two challenged the Jubilee and opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) candidates to show up for the debates and explain to Kenyans why they need to be elected or re-elected.

Kaparo said the debates are an opportunity for the public to compare and contrast the different manifestos of the potential leaders.

“It is a right for us to hear from these people what they want for this country. They cannot take the Kenyan voter for a joke,” said Dr Simiyu Werunga, the General Manager of Access Media.

Miguna said the debates should be respected by all those seeking elective positions from across the country.

“Moving forward, we will know what kind of leaders we have. Because NASA cannot say they will not attend just because Jubilee will not. We should question what their focus is,” argued Miguna Miguna.

The first Presidential Debate set for Monday, July 10, 2017 was rescheduled after President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party and his opposition NASA counterpart, Raila Odinga, declined to participate citing failure to be consulted as well as the format of the debates.

Deputy President, William Ruto, had also, on Sunday, July 16, 2017, indicated that he would be skipping the debates on grounds that he had not been consulted and that he had learnt about the same from the media.

The debates are the second in Kenya’s history after the media hosted a similar one in 2013.

The debates are also open to public participation by tweeting using the #DebatesKe on the twitter account @debates_ke.