How Itumbi Trained Gachagua To Beat Karua In Deputy Presidential Debate
The coalition set up a room to match that of the podium at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) where the debate was held
Marvin Chege 
It has emerged that the Kenya Kwanza coalition had carried out a series of mock exercises in readiness for the deputy presidential debates, where Rigathi Gachagua was coached on how to upset Azimio la Umoja running mate, Martha Karua.
Digital strategist, Dennis Itumbi, detailed on Tuesday, September 20 the inner workings of the preparations, which saw a team of 10 experts aiding in preparing Gachagua to match up to Karua on the night of Tuesday, July 19.
The coalition set up a room to match that of the podium at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) where the debate was held, and put the Deputy President on the spotlight.
Kenya Kwanza coalition carrying out a mock exercise of the deputy presidential debate. /DENNIS ITUMBI
They even had a woman who masqueraded as Karua for the mock experiment, whose aim was to annoy Gachagua as Karua would have done to him in reality.
"Hustler Nation worked hard. In between the Campaigns, we practiced for the debates. Nothing was taken for granted.
"We even had a Martha Karua, whose brief was to annoy the then Deputy Presidential candidate Hon. Rigathi Gachagua. She did her assignment well...she even went barefoot - literally," Itumbi narrated.
He added that they practiced in rattling Gachagua more than the moderators for the debate and Karua would have done and worked well with him to the point that the then Deputy Presidential candidate also gave some ideas on the same.
"The Candidate, as he was then also practiced patience and we pushed him to the corner, much more than the biased media could even imagine. He did very well behind the scenes, then excelled on the main stage
"While we helped prepare, H.E Rigathi, he really mentored us along the way. It was worth each minute," he added.
Gachagua and Karua faced each other during the debate televised live across the country, with KTN News' Sophia Wanuna and NTV's James Smart moderating.
Karua was also preparing in advance to beat Gachagua. She revealed in an interview with KBC that she knew he would try to get her angry, a move she stated failed.
"Those who stated that it was not in my nature are those who are supporting a given political faction. What took me there is to explain our agenda. It was not my first time attending a debate.
"Equally, it was not my first time to be on TV. There are standards for the debate and I followed them. You (Gachagua) thought you were smart and could easily rile me up. They are the ones who are now disappointed," Karua argued.
Gachagua and Wanuna would meet again on Sunday, September 18 whereby the former accused the latter of being unfair to him.
He also claimed that because of the two anchors focusing on his integrity issues and not giving him a chance to tell Kenyans the plans by the Kenya Kwanza coalition, he alongside President William Ruto lost nearly 300,000 votes in the August 9, 2022, general elections.
A collage of KTN News' Sophia Wanuna and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. /VIRALTEAKE
