DP Ruto tweeted he learnt of the debates on July 14. Not true

Muthiora Kariara, running mate of independent presidential candidate, Japhet Kavinga Kaluyu, during the deputy president presidential debate on July 17, 2017 at Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Was Jubilee informed about running mates’ debate?

“Just seen news alert that there will be a debate of running mates. Is it true? I am surprised that no one has engaged me on the debate. Courtesy demands that date, time, rules of engagement would have been made available.”

Deputy President William Ruto on his official Twitter handle on July 14 and 16, 2017

Deputy President William Ruto did not attend the presidential debate for running mates at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, where he was to face National Super Alliance (Nasa) Flag-bearer Raila Odinga’s running mate Kalonzo Musyoka at 8:30pm.

Instead, he was together with President Kenyatta in Kilifi County drumming up support for their re-election. Mr Ruto had earlier hinted at not attending through his official Twitter account @WilliamsRuto, claiming that he had only got to know of the debate through a news alert and that no communication had been shared with him. Mr Musyoka, on the other hand, did not communicate on why he failed to honor the invitation, though Nasa would later allege that he was out of the country.

The plans to have the debates were first made public in May 9, 2017 by the Media Owners’ Association. The debate was organised by the Debates Media Limited, which is a broad partnership of mainstream media houses comprising television, radio, newspapers and online platforms.

Newsplex has reviewed invitation documents sent by Debates Media Limited to all candidates prior to the debates. Debates Media Limited, through its Head of Secretariat Francis Munywoki, sent an invitation to Jubilee Party and Nasa on June 23, 2017, inviting them for the debate.

In the letters, candidates were invited to a briefing at June 30, 2017 at 9:30 am at Serena Hotel. The organisers sent one invitation for each campaign team.  Another set of invitation letters was sent to the campaign teams in 14 July, referring to another set of letters sent on July 3 and July 10.

CRITERIA OF PARTICIPATION

Only presidential candidate Japheth Kaluyu’s running mate Eliud Muthiora Kariara showed up for the debate.

In an interview on NTV, Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju said that in the initial stages, when the debate had aborted, he had not been involved in discussions. The organisers had later taken up the invitation with only State House and not the office of deputy president’s which has its own communication channel with the media. 

In a statement on July 5, the Chairman of The Steering Committee on the Presidential Debates, Wachira Waruru stated that the members of the steering committee had been in constant communication with the campaign teams prior to the May announcement, and that guidelines had not only been published in the media, but also communicated to the presidential campaign teams.

One presidential candidate, Mohamed Abduba Dida, took the organisers to court challenging the criteria of participation (that was to have the first debate featuring presidential candidates with more than five per cent in national opinion polls, and a second debate for those with less than five per cent) which he cited as discriminatory. The High Court threw out the case.

After all the efforts to have consultations with the various campaign teams were made by Debates Media Ltd, Mr Ruto’s claim that he had only heard of the debate through a news alert is inaccurate.