Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga has confirmed that he will not attend the presidential debate at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) on Tuesday, July 26.
Speaking at an Azimio rally in Meru County on Tuesday, the former Prime Minister claimed that he had no time to debate with 'thieves'.
"Mimi siwezi enda kufanya debate na mwizi. Sina haja kuongea na wezi. Tukutane na yeye kwa debe" Raila stated.
Raila was expected to hold a town hall session at Jericho in Nairobi, but the session has been moved to a later date.
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Raila's presidential secretariat on Sunday, July 24, said that it would be 'a colossal mistake' for the Azimio leader to share a podium with Deputy President William Ruto, whom they described as a person who lacks integrity.
"Unfortunately, a traditional debate structure with opposing candidates joined together on stage is a bad idea this year. Our competitor has proven over the course of his career that he will do and say anything in his ungovernable greed for power. Today as his campaign fails and supporters abandon him, he has become desperate," read a statement by the secretariat.
However, the presidential debate secretariat announced that the debate will proceed as planned despite the withdrawal of Raila.
"We confirm to the public that the 2022 presidential debate will take place on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at the Catholic University for Eastern Africa (CUEA) main campus in Karen, Nairobi from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm," part of the statement read.
