The running mate of independent presidential candidate, Japhet Kavinga Kaluyu, Muthiora Kariara, during presidential running mates debate at CUEA, July 17, 2017. [Photo: nation.co.ke]
Debates Media Ltd steering committee has strongly defended itself, after seven presidential running mates failed to show up for the running mates debate, Monday evening.
This follows claims by several presidential running mates deputies, that organisers did not engage them, before advertising for the anticipated debate.
Top deputies such as Deputy President William Ruto and Kalonzo Musyoka did not show up fr the debate, lleaving Kenyans and participants with questions as to why they turned dow the invitation.
Muthiora Kariara, the running mate of independent presidential candidate, Japhet Kavinga Kaluyu. was the only that showed up on time, with the moderator allowing him to go on stage, solo, for 90 minutes, at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
The show was later dubbed 'one-man show', with the candidate getting applause from across, for honouring the invitation, for the sake of Kenyans.
Some few running mates, showed up hours later, and were denied access to the debating auditorium, for failing to keep time.
According to the steering committee, they have been actively engaging all the candidates, and that claims of lack of consultation as a reason not to show up for the debate, was untrue.“The suggestion that the candidates did not know about these debates is therefore at best dishonest. These debates have never been about individual candidates, they have never been about any one or two political parties. The debates are driven by the enduring principle that the media is a watchdog for society and provides a platform for alternative visions to contend," read part of a statement by the steering committee, seen by the Daily Nation.
It had also clarified that there was clear directions of holding the debate, whether or not any candidate would show up.
'We believe that as media, we have discharged our duty.''