UDA Deputy Presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua has confirmed that he will attend the Deputy Presidential debate scheduled for today at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Rigathi appeared at CUEA for a briefing on the rules before the confirmation.
The choice to participate in debates was left up to both Ruto and Rigathi, according to Hussein Mohamed, the communications director for Ruto’s presidential campaign, who just last week informed journalists that the candidates had given each other advice.
The decision to appear or not now firmly rests with the candidate and the deputy. Based on the present state of the media, my team and I provided them with advise. The media’s monitoring report for the month of June really validated that recommendation.
“Whether or not the candidate or the deputy will appear, is a matter that now firmly rests with them. I and the team gave them advice based on the current media environment. That advice was actually legitimised by the monitoring report of the month of June by the Media Council of Kenya; that the other people (Azimio) are enjoying 61 per cent of coverage,” said Hussein.
The Presidential Debates Secretariat will conduct the debate in two stages.
The first tier will consist of Deputy Presidential candidates with popularity ratings that, according to three recent polls, are below 5%, while the second tier will consist of candidates with popularity ratings that are over 5%.
The first debate will start at 6:00 and go until 7.30, while the second will start at 8:00 and go until 9.30.
The names of four vice presidential candidates who will appear on the ballot with the primary candidates have been released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
They are Justina Wangui Wamae of the Roots Party, Rigathi Gachagua of the UDA, Ruth Mucheru Wambui of the Agano Party, and Martha Karua of the Azimio la Umoja campaign.
The first-tier discussion will be conducted by John Jacob Kioria of KBC and Linda Alela of TV47 and will feature candidates who have received less than 5% of the vote in three recent surveys.
The second-tier debate will feature candidates that have received more than 5% in three recent polls.
Trevor Ombija of Citizen TV will preside over the panels for both debates.
