The Weekly Vision
The
organizers of the Presidential debate last weekend received a major blow when
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga
declared that he will not be attending the debate slated for Tuesday at the Catholic
University of East Africa (CUEA).
Emerging details of the decision show that Mr Odinga and
his running mate Martha Karua will instead attend a town hall meeting at
Jericho Social Hall in Nairobi’s Eastlands area where they will be meeting
voters and leaders. The timing also brings in the question of what impact the
Jericho live streaming will have on the Presidential debates at the CUEA if it
ever takes place.
Professor Makau Mutua, spokesperson of Raila Odinga
Presidential Campaign Secretariat said one of the reasons why they have opted
out is because they cannot participate in an exercise where a rival is
dictating what questions are fielded to the contestants. Prof Mutua pointed out
that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate and rebel
Deputy President William Ruto has demanded that the debate should not focus on
corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance — the key existential questions
that Kenya faces and at the core of the Azimio campaign.
Ironically the previous two deputy televised debates for
Nairobi County Governorship and Presidential running mates contestant's
moderators left the debaters to turn into personality circuses instead of very
critical issues affecting the city county but also the country at large – Ruto’s
running mate turned into a circus to attack President Uhuru Kenyatta who is not
contesting but outgoing. Prof Mutua said that as a matter of consequence, a
debate devoid of the critical questions on the above-mentioned issues among
others would be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans.
In a Press Release to media houses in Nairobi, last
Sunday Prof Mutua said: “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. He is a man who has no
regard for ethics, or public morals, and no stand on corruption or shame. That
is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks
basic decency.”
The Professor accused the Deputy President of becoming
desperate as his campaign flails and supporters abandon him, and Azmio will not
be a party to helping the Kenya Kwanza leaders - “ungovernable greed for
power”. Part of the Press Release read: “Simply put, our main opponent has
proven throughout his career that he will do and say anything in his
ungovernable greed for power. As it is well known, our opponent has traversed
the country hurling epithets at us and other key national leaders, including
vile sexist attacks.”
It also expressed misgivings about the debate structure
with opposing candidates joining together on stage, saying it is a bad idea
“this year”. Prof. Mutua said debates should typically provide an opportunity
for voters to hear directly from candidates for public office, to understand
their vision for leadership, and to decide whether the candidate reflects their
values. With that granted, that is why the Azimio Brigade has opted for a
televised town hall at Jericho Social Hall in Nairobi with ordinary Kenyans to
offer solutions to the challenges facing the country and common people. It will
also be streamed on huge strategically placed television screens throughout
Eastlands for residents who may not be able to access the packed hall without
the option of watching the live event from their homes. “Our flag-bearer Rt Hon
Raila Odinga and his running mate, Hon Martha Karua, will answer questions put
to them by the people of Kenya openly, honestly, and free from what would
otherwise be nothing more than empty self-serving political theatre,” said Prof
Mutua.
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