•In a statement on Thursday, Communications head Hussein Mohammed said this was due to media bias.
•"This has been deliberately contravened, ignored and bravely abused by the sections of the media," he said.
Image: FILE
UDA has advised DP William Ruto to withdraw from the presidential debate to be held in July.
In a statement on Thursday, UDA Communications head Hussein Mohammed said this was due to media bias.
"We have noted with much concern the repeated and continued bias and propaganda in a section of Kenya’s mainstream media in abuse of statutory," he said.
"Under the current partisan media environment, we have advised our candidate against participating in the presidential debate."
Mohammed said Political news is a matter of public interest and its coverage therefore by journalists, media practitioners or media enterprises has to be done fairly, accurately and with all sides of the story being reported.
"This has been deliberately contravened, ignored and bravely abused by the sections of the media," he said.
The presidential debate is not organised by a particular media house.
Media Owners Association, Media Council of Kenya and Kenya Editors Guild jointly announced that the Presidential and Deputy Presidential Debates will take place before the elections.
The institutions said specific dates, the venue and logistics will be announced at a later date.
"It is scheduled to take place in July in consultation with Political parties ahead of August 9, 2022. Also, a team of senior editors from across media houses has been put in place to secure the interest of Kenyans and to deliver fairness to all concerned," they said in a joint statement.
During the debate, a live audience representing the various sectors of the society will be present and the public will have a platform to send in their questions as well.
It is at this point that the Contenders are expected to sell their agendas and what is in store for Kenyans ahead of the August elections.