Kenya Kwanza Alliance running mate nominee Rigathi Gachagua has gone on a long tirade with Azimio – One Kenya coalition after Raila Odinga pulled out from the long-awaited presidential debate that is slotted on Tuesday, 26th July 2022 at Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Speaking during the Kenya Kwanza rally in Kajiado, Gachagua chided Raila for being too old to withstand the 90 minutes presidential debate on Tuesday.
He claimed that Raila is too old to remain standing for more than 90 minutes while debating against the Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto.
“Ule jamaa wa Azimio alikuwa ameandika barua ya kusema aruhusiwe kukaa chini debate ikiendelea. Wakamuambia candidate hawawezi Kaa chini. Sasa amejiondoa kwa sababu hawezi simama 90 minutes. Ni Mzee kabisa mwili imekataa” said Gachagua.
He also chest-thumbed for allegedly deconstructing the Azimio – One Kenya running mate nominee Martha Karua during the deputy presidential debate last week.
“Si mliona nilinyorosha ule deputy wa Azimio wakati wa debate? Nilinyorosha sikumnyorosha?” Gachagua asked the wild crowd.
Azimio – One Kenya presidential secretariat spokesperson Makau Mutua revealed that Raila and his deputy Martha Karua will instead run a parallel debate at Jericho Social Hall in Eastlands to table what the coalition holds for Kenyans.
Azimio One Kenya presidential candidate 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.
Raila opted to skip the presidential debate tier with Deputy President William Ruto citing that he (Ruto) has no ethical principles to debate on corruption, integrity, and governance when he has allegedly ruined the country’s economy by drying public coffers for individual’s interest.
“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.
