Raila Odinga’s Azimio – One Kenya coalition has accused Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto for allegedly aiming at sabotaging the long awaited presidential debate to fit into his personal demands.

According to Azimio One Kenya coalition spokesperson, Makau Mutua, presidential debates provide an opportunity for voters to hear from candidates eyeing public offices to understand their respective vision for leadership and reflect on whether the candidates uphold the value of the office they are seeking.

Raila Odinga

“Typically, debates provide an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates for public office, to understand their vision for leadership, and to decide whether the candidates reflect their values,” said Makau Mutua in a statement.

Without mentioning the name, Mutua accused the second in command of his alleged greed for power by directing the moderators of the debate to focus on other issues affecting millions of Kenyans rather than rooting the debate on corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance, which Azimio One Kenya terms as key existential issues that ought to be vastly and exhaustively addressed.

“He (indirectly referring to Ruto) is a man who has no regard for ethics, public morals, or shame. That is why he has demanded that the debate not focus on corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance – the existential questions that Kenya faces. These issues sit at the core of Azimio’s campaign. Any debate devoid of these questions would be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans” added the statement.

Raila’s position on the Presidential debate

Azimio hinted that Raila Odinga intends not to share a tie debate with DP Ruto owing to the allegations that he demanded the critical issues of corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance to be avoided during the debate.

“That is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks basic decency. As is well known, our opponent traversed the country hurling epithets at us and other key national leaders, including vile sexiest attacks” the statement reads.