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As Kenya presidential candidates were being roasted at a tough debate, several parts of the capital and surrounding areas suffered a sudden electricity blackout.
Power outage have been reported in the whole of Kapsabet – Nandi Hills, Nandi County, Uasin Gishu Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties.
Other regions that have experienced the blackout include Nairobi, Bungoma and Kakamega.
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At 8:12pm this evening, we experienced a system disturbance at the Kisumu – Muhoroni high voltage transmission power line that tripped several power circuits and affected power generation from Muhoroni Gas Turbine Station and Turkwell Hydropower Station. The shortfall caused power outages in parts of Western, South Nyanza, North Rift, Central Rift and Nairobi North.
Debate Substance
Deputy President William Ruto has said that if elected president in the upcoming General Elections, his first assignment will be to deal with Kenya’s national debt.
Speaking during the presidential debate, Ruto said that should the Kenya Kwanza Alliance make the next government, they would go slow on borrowing, put brakes on unbudgeted projects and raise revenues to address the national debt that currently stands at Sh8.4 trillion.
“We should stop this borrowing spree.”
He said that the Jubilee government borrowed Sh2.2 trillion during its first term, compared to the second term where they borrowed Sh4.2 trillion.
The UDA presidential candidate said that he was not involved in running the government during the second term, claiming that he was sidelined following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio la Umoja’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
David Mwaure, presidential candidate
David Mwaure, Agano’s presidential candidate has warned nations that host stashed monies that he will go after them.
He had earlier this month written to the United Nations and fifteen other countries to start getting the alleged money back into the country.
He has however not received any correspondence following his request.
“I have not had any response from these countries, but our 100 days already started. They are listening and we’ve got good will from out there…we’ve got great friends from out of Kenya,” he said.
Mwaure is on record saying that he will cut diplomatic ties with countries that do not work with him or his government.
“Why can’t it be done? If a country is holding our money, it knows that it is supposed to be Eurobond money, or it is money from SGR?” he posed.
Kenya Presidential Debate Ends With Power Blackout – Taarifa Rwanda
Kenya presidential contest: Odinga refuses to take part in debate
Kenya’s presidential contender Raila Odinga would boycott Tuesday’s debate, his campaign spokesman said while accusing Ruto of corruption
Kenya presidential contest: Odinga refuses to take part in debate
Kenya’s presidential contender Raila Odinga would boycott Tuesday’s debate, his campaign spokesman said while accusing Ruto of corruption
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Rigathi Gachagua (L) and running mate of Azimio la Umoja (aspiration to unite) political alliance Martha Karua attend the deputy presidential debate held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, on 19 July, 2022, ahead of August’s general elections. – Kenya’s leading presidential candidates on 19 July, 2022 announced plans to make their final push for votes at the same stadium on the same day, raising fears of possible clashes before the August 9 polls. Photo: Simon MAINA / AFP
One of Kenya’s two leading presidential candidates, Raila Odinga, will not take part in an upcoming electoral debate, his campaign team said Sunday, accusing his principal rival of trying to avoid certain topics such as corruption.
Odinga, 77, a former prime minister, and Deputy President William Ruto, 55, are the leading contenders in the 9 August presidential poll.
But in a statement announcing Odinga would boycott Tuesday’s debate, his campaign spokesman accused Ruto of trying to dodge discussion of key issues.
Ruto “has demanded that the debate not focus on corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance — the key existential questions that Kenya faces”, Odinga’s spokesman said in the statement.
ALSO READ: ‘Pack your bags’: Protesters storm UN base in DR Congo
RAILA ODINGA SAYS WON’T TAKE PART IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
“Any debate devoid of these questions would be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans. That is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks basic decency,”
he added.
Instead, Odinga plans to take part in a televised town hall meeting in an eastern neighbourhood of the capital Nairobi with “ordinary Kenyans”, according to the statement.
The organisers of the debate said that they “continue to engage all stakeholders, including the various presidential campaign teams”.
“In accordance with the Presidential Debate Guidelines, we have shared the thematic areas with all the candidates and the moderators will endeavour to cover all the said topics within the set timeline,”
the statement said.
The debate, scheduled for six hours, would still proceed on Tuesday, the organisers added.
ALSO READ: Macron arrives in Cameroon on first leg of west Africa trip
‘FAIR OPPORTUNITY’
Odinga’s announcement follows a letter sent Thursday by Ruto’s director of communications to the debate organisers.
It said that he was “ready to answer any question and speak to any matter that arises during the debate” but added that his attendance was “contingent” on certain matters.
“We expect that the moderators will allocate equal time to issues affecting Kenyans and equally allow candidates a fair opportunity to address them,”
the letter said.
“To that end we wish to know in advance the number of minutes that will be allocated to respective interventions including, but not restricted to governance and integrity, agriculture, healthcare, MSMEs and manufacturing, housing, the digital economy, foreign policy, and so on and so forth,” it continued.
The debate organisers have insisted that “the moderators will select the questions to be asked, and shall NOT share the same with the candidates”.
“They will NOT meet with any of the campaign teams or the candidates,”
they added in the statement.
Sitting President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot run again and has endorsed Odinga over his deputy of nine years after an acrimonious falling out.
© Agence France-Presse
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Rigathi Gachagua (L) and running mate of Azimio la Umoja (aspiration to unite) political alliance Martha Karua attend the deputy presidential debate held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, on 19 July, 2022, ahead of August’s general elections. – Kenya’s leading presidential candidates on 19 July, 2022 announced plans to make their final push for votes at the same stadium on the same day, raising fears of possible clashes before the August 9 polls. Photo: Simon MAINA / AFP
One of Kenya’s two leading presidential candidates, Raila Odinga, will not take part in an upcoming electoral debate, his campaign team said Sunday, accusing his principal rival of trying to avoid certain topics such as corruption.
Odinga, 77, a former prime minister, and Deputy President William Ruto, 55, are the leading contenders in the 9 August presidential poll.
But in a statement announcing Odinga would boycott Tuesday’s debate, his campaign spokesman accused Ruto of trying to dodge discussion of key issues.
Ruto “has demanded that the debate not focus on corruption, integrity, ethics, and governance — the key existential questions that Kenya faces”, Odinga’s spokesman said in the statement.
ALSO READ: ‘Pack your bags’: Protesters storm UN base in DR Congo
RAILA ODINGA SAYS WON’T TAKE PART IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
“Any debate devoid of these questions would be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans. That is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks basic decency,”
he added.
Instead, Odinga plans to take part in a televised town hall meeting in an eastern neighbourhood of the capital Nairobi with “ordinary Kenyans”, according to the statement.
The organisers of the debate said that they “continue to engage all stakeholders, including the various presidential campaign teams”.
“In accordance with the Presidential Debate Guidelines, we have shared the thematic areas with all the candidates and the moderators will endeavour to cover all the said topics within the set timeline,”
the statement said.
The debate, scheduled for six hours, would still proceed on Tuesday, the organisers added.
ALSO READ: Macron arrives in Cameroon on first leg of west Africa trip
‘FAIR OPPORTUNITY’
Odinga’s announcement follows a letter sent Thursday by Ruto’s director of communications to the debate organisers.
It said that he was “ready to answer any question and speak to any matter that arises during the debate” but added that his attendance was “contingent” on certain matters.
“We expect that the moderators will allocate equal time to issues affecting Kenyans and equally allow candidates a fair opportunity to address them,”
the letter said.
“To that end we wish to know in advance the number of minutes that will be allocated to respective interventions including, but not restricted to governance and integrity, agriculture, healthcare, MSMEs and manufacturing, housing, the digital economy, foreign policy, and so on and so forth,” it continued.
The debate organisers have insisted that “the moderators will select the questions to be asked, and shall NOT share the same with the candidates”.
“They will NOT meet with any of the campaign teams or the candidates,”
they added in the statement.
Sitting President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot run again and has endorsed Odinga over his deputy of nine years after an acrimonious falling out.
© Agence France-Presse