Ruto to Boycott Upcoming Presidential Debate over Media Bias
Deputy President William Ruto has announced he will not attend the planned presidential debate, citing media bias against his campaign.
In a statement, WSR Campaign Communications Director Hussein Mohammed claimed that media houses have been biased in covering the Kenya Kwanza Alliance campaigns around the country.
"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 terms of license and violations of constitutional freedoms," read part of the statement.
“While their nefarious intentions remain inconsequential to an enlightened people, we demand fair play as a matter of right as well as professional decency.”
Hussein stated that political news is a matter of public interest and its coverage, according to the Media Council Act 2013, has to be done fairly, accurately, and with all sides of the story being reported.
“This has been deliberately contravened, consciously ignored and brazenly abused by the sections of the media.
Ruto singled out Royal Media Services which he accused of converting its platforms, especially Citizen TV, Inooro TV, and Citizen Radio to official campaign mouthpieces of the Azimio La Umoja.
“The Daily Nation complements these abuses by becoming their print counterpart,” the statement adds.
Hussein said they expect the media to play their rightful role in cultivating a healthy, robust, and inclusive discourse, adding that Kenya’s democracy depends on the media “to make our political environment less divisive and less toxic.”
"Under the current partisan media environment, we have advised our candidate against participating in the presidential debate," Hussein added.
The presidential debate scheduled for July is being organized by the Media Owners Association, the Media Council of Kenya, and the Kenya Editors Guild.
Comments
You got nothing important to…
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You got nothing important to tell Kenyans Ruto. You have already lost anyway. Start packing your junk to Surgoi.
@Kipruto, this thug, WSR 1…
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In reply to You got nothing important to… by Kipruto (not verified)
@Kipruto, this thug, WSR
1. Does not have any agenda to better the life of Kenyans.
2. Knows he is going to lose.
3. Rumors have it he may even withdrawal his candidacy citing rigging. He hopes to further stretch his relevance to a Nusu Mkate scenario.
4. Lastly but not least he is aware he is going to lose big time.
Mugikuyu you could not have…
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In reply to @Kipruto, this thug, WSR 1… by Mūgīkūyū (not verified)
Mugikuyu you could not have described the Azimia boss any better than you have here except you forgot mtu wa kitendawili. No agenda but entertainment frenzy at their rallies.
Actually it is a tactical…
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In reply to You got nothing important to… by Kipruto (not verified)
Actually it is a tactical move. Ruto is a better debater than Raila but if he debates him Rigathi must also debate Karua and that's where the weak link is. Karua would toast Rigathi so bad that their debate would nail Ruto's coffin. So Ruto's move has twofold; earn more sympathy votes and protect himself from Rigathi's embarrassment.
YOU CAN RELY ON YUSULF FOR THE MOST BALANCED ANALYSIS
This is well said but do not…
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In reply to Actually it is a tactical… by Yusuf (not verified)
This is well said but do not under estimate baba man. His facts are more solid and level headed than Ruto’s facts.
As for Rigathi, any loose canon will go off. Rigathi will even talk about his dead dogs and the imaginary camouflage chameleons. Rigathi is just a natural bully.
His dark yellow teeth will turn red and the stench from his mouth will make Karua start losing facts. Hehehe…
Who really cares if Ruto…
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Who really cares if Ruto decides to attend or not? He will just be talking some button down crap that has never worked anywhere in this world. Get lost DP.
Any body will be against…
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Any body will be against Ruto’s UDAku campaigns of insults and doom. Kenyans are tired of Ruto/Rigathi insults toward Raila and Karua. We want to hear good ideas and. It childshiness from grown men - Ruto/Rigathi.
Losers crying foul. Bull you…
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Losers crying foul. Bull you know what
Cowardice, mkale mwenza, is…
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Cowardice, mkale mwenza, is not the way to go....let the voter be the judge. You might earn lotsa votes by letting the bias play in broad daylight. Go for it!
Hebu tazameni na pia…
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Hebu tazameni na pia sikilizeni vitendo vya kutisha na pia vya ajabu kutoka kwa watu wanaomjua ndugu yetu Kipchirchir Samoei.
https://youtu.be/ZatYzXJDBmw
https://youtu.be/kuLa2YKGy5c
https://youtu.be/OsiRoC4yQpg
Everything said here is true…
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In reply to Hebu tazameni na pia… by Imara Daima (not verified)
Everything said here is true about Ruto. He is running for presidency to save himself from the ICC. Ruto is totally unfit to be the next president of kenya.
He is not willing to concede…
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He is not willing to concede lost election just whining around
Go to Sugoi hell Ruto. We…
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Go to Sugoi hell Ruto. We have had enough of your shit.
@ndabuki,how about…
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In reply to Go to Sugoi hell Ruto. We… by Ndambo (not verified)
@ndabuki,how about contributing with factual political facts than expressing miscarriaged insults!
Takataka ghasia Ruto hii…
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Takataka ghasia Ruto hii. Mtu yetu hii naokopa itakuwa exposed! Loh, kwenda kapisa nyumbani ngiri wewe.
A lot of people from the…
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In reply to Takataka ghasia Ruto hii… by Kipruto James (not verified)
A lot of people from the kalenjin nation will not vote for Ruto. They murmur that message every day. They complain that Ruto is a very greedy people who cares less about their plight and well-being.
You call yourself Kipruto…
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In reply to Takataka ghasia Ruto hii… by Kipruto James (not verified)
You call yourself Kipruto when in real sense you are just a homeless individual residing inside the same people you are calling names. You were displaced from your original homestead of Mt Kenya by the same family you are licking their ass. You cannot even compare yourself with Ruto’s yea girl yet you are calling takataka?
Ruto's game plan was to use…
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Ruto's game plan was to use trump's playbook of promoting populism, rubbishing the opposition, claiming election rigging, blaming the media, and ignoring the mirrors in his house!!
That has failed spectacularly because the voting populace in Kenya is smarter!
If he holds campaigns where he discusses substance, then the media will cover him!
Ruto has been campaigning…
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Ruto has been campaigning for the last 5 years. He is shocked to see his effort being defeated at the last minute. He thought it will be a smooth sail to State house.
Ruto has gone banana now he…
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Ruto has gone banana now he is sensing defeat. He will certainly lose.
Now Ruto want several cs…
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Now Ruto want several cs fired while he is still holding on his job. What a freaking dirty minded moron for a DP.
Wachana na huyu Shetani wa…
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Wachana na huyu Shetani wa Surgoi. No body wants to debate a fool.
I have said before that Ruto…
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I have said before that Ruto is a cry baby without any substance. He knows the issues of corruption and stealing will come up and he can’t stand those challenges. He is doing the best thing to save Ruto’s face.
He forgot people came to his meetings to eat but they all knew they would never vote for Ruto.
The Ruto issue has been compounded by Rigathi who is a thief of equal measure with Ruto. Kenyans will not allow UDAku thieves to lead our country to hell.
I thought the media bias was…
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I thought the media bias was the other way around Ruto? What are you talking about William? Shenzi wewe.
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