• Mutua claimed Ruto had issued his reservations telling the moderators not to focus on corruption and integrity - issues which Azimio wanted to take centre stage.
• The UDA leader was expected to sell his agenda to the residents of Baringo, Nakuru and Nyandarua counties.
Image: COURTESY
Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Roots presidential candidate George Wajackoyah still maintain they will not attend the Presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday.
In a statement by Raila spokesman Makau Mutua, the coalition argued that having the candidates- DP William Ruto and Raila- on the same platform this year would be a bad idea.
Mutua claimed Ruto had issued his reservations telling the moderators not to focus on corruption and integrity- issues which Azimio wanted to take centre stage.
Raila was to hold a televised town hall meeting in Jericho, Nairobi but the plans are still unconfirmed.
Wajackoyah, on the other hand, said he will not attend the debate if he will not be paired with Ruto and Raila.
He argued that the polls used as determinants for the tiers favoured the interests of a few individuals.
"The decision is informed by the fact that the polls used as a determinant to pair the presidential candidates are not factual because they are conducted by the pollsters with interests in some of the political parties participating in the presidential debate," he said.
It is still unclear if he will show up for the debate or not.
However, the Presidential debate secretariat confirmed that the debate will still go on as scheduled at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) main campus in Karen, from 4 pm to 10 pm even with the threats by the two candidates.
Ruto, who has maintained he will attend the debate, cancelled all rallies scheduled for Tuesday to give him enough time to prepare for it.
This is according to a Facebook post by the UDA digital strategist Dennis Itumbi.
"Ruto cancels all rallies scheduled for Tomorrow, Tuesday, 26th July, 2022. To enable him to prepare for the Presidential Debate," the post reads.
The UDA leader was expected to sell his agenda to the residents of Baringo, Nakuru and Nyandarua counties.
Speaking during a campaign trail in Uasin Gishu-Nandi counties on Monday, Ruto also begged Raila to show up for the debate.
"I want to encourage my competitor, Mr Kitendawili, to reconsider coming for the debate, I will be waiting for you," he said.
On whether or not Wajackoyah and Raila will attend Tuesday's debate remain to be seen.