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Waajackoya Demands To Face Ruto And Raila After Threatening To Boycott Presidential Debate

SK 2 years ago 2 min read

Prof. George Wajackoyah, a presidential candidate for the Roots Party, has threatened to boycott the presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday, July 26 at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA). He claims that the format of the event as it is currently set up is biased and intended to exclude other candidates.

The debate will currently take place in two tiers. Due to the fact that they are both polled at less than 5% in popularity in the most recent opinion polls, Wajackoyah and David Mwaure will face off in the first tier.

Due to their popularity ratings being above 5% in the same polls, former premier Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto will face off in the second round.

“We would like to notify you that our candidate Prof Wajackoyah will only attend the debate if he will be debating with the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza presidential candidates,” said the Roots Party in a statement on Friday.

Wajackoyah argues that the polls used in segmenting the Presidential Debate into two tiers are not factual.

“Our 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 pollsters with interests in some of the political parties participating in the presidential debate,” added the statement.

“We believe there is the time between today and the 26th July to conduct credible polls that will show the true picture on the ground.”

Earlier in the day, Wajackoyah, while speaking at a campaign rally in Garissa reiterated his position saying: “Nyinyi waandishi, mimi nawaonya hiyo presidential debate sikuji. Ati mnasema tutakuwa na two tiers? Nyinyi mnatubagua kwa nini? Si mniachie huyo mzee (Raila) ni cheze na yeye na huyo mwingine (Ruto). Hizo opinion polls zimekuwa rigged.”