Gachagua confirms attendance at Tuesday’s running mates debate
UDA party presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua will attend the running mate's media debate set for Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi.
The Mathira Member of Parliament confirmed attendance on Monday, ahead of the highly anticipated session.
People Daily Digital has established that Gachagua visited the venue of the debate on Monday evening where he met the organising committee.
He was briefed on the ground rules by the team led by Cliff Machoka, the Head of the Presidential Debate Secretariat.
Also present was former chairman of the Kenya Editors Guild Linus Kaikai.
The latest development puts to rest speculations that Gachagua would skip the crucial session.
Gachagua and UDA presidential candidate William Ruto recently protested what they termed as media bias, fueling speculations that they were planning to snub the debate.
In a statement, WSR Campaign Communications Director Hussein Mohammed said Kenyan media houses have been biased in covering the Kenya Kwanza alliance team's campaign rallies.
"We have noted with much concern the repeated and continued bias and propaganda in a section of Kenya’s mainstream media in abuse of statutory," he said.
Mohamed said the Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer had been advised not to attend the debate.
"Under the current partisan media environment, we have advised our candidate against participating in the presidential debate," Mohamed added.
Mohammed said journalists, media practitioners, and media enterprises have to be fair, and accurate and report all sides of the story.
Gachagua face off with Karua
Gachagua is expected to face off with Azimio - One Kenya coalition's Martha Karua.
Others expected to attend the debate include Agano Party's Ruth Mucheru Mutua and Justina Wambui of Roots Party.
The presidential debate will be conducted on July 26 at the same venue.
