Deputy President William Ruto has taken a swipe at Raila Odinga after the Azimio Coalition aspirant pulled out of the forthcoming Presidential Debate set for Tuesday, July 29.
In a statement on Sunday, July 24, Odinga’s presidential campaign secretariat said Raila cannot share a national podium with a person who lacks “basic decency”.
“… he has become desperate. He 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 key existential questions that Kenya faces. These issues sit at the core of the Azimio campaign,” said Prof. Makau Mutua.
Prof Mutua said that Azimio’s presidential candidate would be having a town hall meeting with the electorate at Jericho Social Hall, Nairobi instead.
The campaign secretariat accused Ruto’s team of seeking to divert focus from corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance which are the key issues and concerns facing Kenyans.
“It would be a colossal mistake to reward such a person with a national debate. We will not help his failing campaign. He can explain himself and his poor record to voters without our help,” Mutua added.
But in a rebuttal, DP Ruto said Raila had chickened out because he doesn’t know what to tell Kenyans.
“He has feared going for the debate because they have no plan and agenda. They have no policies to sell, that is why they are wondering what they will come to do in the debate. They cannot articulate any agenda because they have none. That man who is full of rhetoric lacks clarity on what he wants for Kenyans, ” Ruto said at Erera grounds in Kisii town on Sunday.
Ruto said he would attend the debate and explain the Kenya Kwanza agenda to Kenyans.
“He cannot come for the debate because he has no plan. He doesn’t know what to say. I want to assure Kenyans that I will attend that debate very early, because I want to explain to Kenyans the Kenya Kwanza Alliance plan.”
