Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, 77, and Deputy President William Ruto, 55, are the main candidates in Kenya's presidential poll next month. By Yasuyoshi CHIBA (AFP/File)
One of Kenya's two leading presidential candidates, Raila Odinga, will not take part in an upcoming election debate, his campaign team said on Sunday, accusing his main rival of trying to avoid issues such as corruption.
Odinga, 77, a former prime minister, and Deputy President William Ruto, 55, are the main contenders in the August 9 presidential poll.
But in a statement announcing Odinga would boycott Tuesday's debate, his campaign spokesman accused Ruto of trying to avoid discussing key issues.
Ruto "demanded that the debate should not focus on corruption, integrity, ethics and governance - key existential issues facing Kenya," Odinga's spokesman said in a statement.
"Any debate devoid of these questions would be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans. That is why we are not going to share the national stage with a person who lacks basic decency," he added.
Instead, Odinga plans to attend a televised meeting at City Hall in the eastern district of the capital, Nairobi, with "ordinary Kenyans," according to the statement.
The announcement follows a letter sent by Ruto's director of communications to debate organizers on Thursday.
It said he was "prepared to answer any question and speak on any matter that arises during the debate", but added that his participation was "contingent" on certain issues.
"We expect moderators to devote equal time to issues that affect Kenyans and give candidates a fair chance to address them," the letter said.
“To this end, we wish to know in advance the number of minutes that will be allocated to relevant interventions, including but not limited to governance and integrity, agriculture, health, SMEs and manufacturing, housing, digital economy, foreign policy, etc. on and on further,” it continued.
Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot run again and has endorsed Odinga over nine years as his deputy after a sharp fall.
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