National Super Alliance (NASA) Presidential flag bearer has now announced that he is ready to face off President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Presidential debate.
The announcement comes hours after the High Court dismissed a case in which one of the Presidential Candidates had sought to have the debate temporarily called off.
The candidate, Abduba Dida of Alliance for Real Change party, had brought forward a case to court arguing that the debate’s rule of staging two candidates together was discriminative.
In a statement through his adviser Salim Lone, Raila said that he is looking forward to a one-on-one face off with President Kenyatta.
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“NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga welcomes the ruling this morning by the High Court allowing Debate Media Ltd and the Presidential Debate Secretariat to proceed with their proposed debate plans. This allows all presidential candidates the opportunity to present their ideas to Kenyans and the worlds,” said Odinga’s adviser Salim Lone.
“At the same time, the two main contenders for the presidency will be accorded more time to speak to the country on their records and vision. Mr Odinga is looking forward to this one-on-one debate with relish, and he urges the President to accept this opportunity to debate him on multiple national crises now facing Kenya.”
Raila had earlier in the week said that he would not attend the debate under the changed format and stipulation.
His statement came just hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta withdrew from the event with the Jubilee Party secretary general Raphael Tuju saying that neither the party nor State House was contacted regarding the debate.
Meanwhile, Steering Committee on the Presidential Debates Chairman Wachira Waruru said that his team is engaging various campaign teams to set up briefing sessions on the debates format and other logistical details.