President Uhuru to Skip Monday's Presidential Debate

The Jubilee Party says that President Uhuru Kenyatta will not be taking part in the planned presidential debates ahead of the August 8th general elections.

Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju on Wednesday said that organizers of the debate were yet to contact the party or State House regarding the debates.

“We just see advertisements in the media. We do not know the organizers. We have not been contacted or told what the ground rules are.” Tuju said. "The president won’t attend a debate that smells of conman ship,” he added.

Jubilee Party Vice Chairman David Murathe said that the decision follows what he termed as ‘lack of consultations’ from the organizers, although the Presidents’ party was yet to give an official communication regarding the matter.

The announcement comes days after Alliance for Real Change presidential candidate, Mohammed Abduba Dida, petitioned the Court to stop the debate arguing that guidelines of the debate were discriminatory, in bad faith and contrary to the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

ODM’s Raila Odinga, Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Ekuru Aukot of Thirdway Alliance, Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change (ARC), and independent candidates Joseph Nyagah, Michael Wainaina and Japheth Kavinga are among those expected to participate in the much anticipated event.

The first debate is scheduled for July 10 and the second on 24, at Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).