Presidential Debates Secretariat responds after DP Ruto team asks him to pull out

They said that a panel of senior editors from across the local media industry will provide stewardship to ensure that debates “embody the principles of fairness, integrity, independence and accountability.”

Confirming they have “taken note” of the statement by the WSR Presidential Campaign team advising Deputy President William Ruto to drop out of the debates, the Secretariat said they have involved his team through the process.

“Planning for the 2022 debates has been underway since 2021 and are currently at very advanced stages. Specifically, we have involved various stakeholders, including presidential aspirants – including the WSR Presidential Campaign – to map their expectations,” reads the statement signed by Clifford Machoka, the Head of Presidential Debates Secretariat.

At the same time, Mr. Machoka said that the debates are still on as scheduled.

“In this regard, the 2022 Kenya Presidential Debates will proceed in July 2022 and we will shortly announce the details on how Kenyans can participate,” he said.

Machoka stressed for the need of the debates saying they are important in helping the public make up their minds on who to vote for. 

“For a country that has so many diverse political voices, debates have become the place for clarity of priorities, public policies, ideas and other development aspects key to the Kenyan people,” read the statement. 

“The debates play a significant role in the way we choose our leaders. During these debates, the public gets to listen to the candidates and gauge what their priorities could be once they assume office. In that way, they catalyse issue-based elections; provide an opportunity for candidates to debate, interact and engage; and enable Kenyans to make informed decisions.”

The Presidential Debates Secretariat is a joint organ of the Media Owners Association, the Media Council of Kenya and the Kenya Editors’ Guild. The Secretariat organises Presidential Debates during election years and has done so over the last 10 years in 2013 and 2017.