Wajackoyah Issues Ultimatum To Presidential Debates Secretariat
The man who has vowed to legalise marijuana for commercial uses to bolster Kenya's economy argued that...
Marvin Chege 
Roots party presidential candidate George Luchiri Wajackoyah has now threatened to skip the upcoming Presidential Debate set for Tuesday, July 26, issuing a condition to the debates secretariat.
On Monday, July 18, Wajackoyah promised that he would not show up for the debate unless he was paired with the likes of Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja coalition and Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza.
The man who has vowed to legalise marijuana for commercial uses to bolster Kenya's economy argued that he has a huge support base, particularly in Nairobi, that was enough to go head to head with the country's top presidential candidates.
A poll by Infotrak on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, showing the most popular presidential candidates. /INFOTRAK
This is despite a number of opinion polls placing him below the 5 per cent mark that would categorise him amongst the first slot of candidates during the debate, with the latest by Infotrak on Wednesday, July 13 placing him at 4 per cent.
"I am not attending the presidential debate unless I am paired with Ruto and Raila. I am more popular in Nairobi than any of these people. I will win this election without debate," he vowed.
This comes amidst speculations that Wajackoyah would be paired with Agano Party presidential candidate David Mwaure Waihiga.
Two debates so far, inclusive of the Deputy Presidential debate, have had two tiers; that is, one with candidates with a popularity of below 5 per cent in three recent opinion polls and one with candidates with a popularity of above 5 per cent in three recent opinion polls.
Wajackoyah's deputy, Justina Wamae, is expected to face the Agano party's running mate Ruth Mutua in the first tier of the deputy presidential debate set for Tuesday, July 19.
This will precede the showdown between Azimio running mate Martha Karua and Rigathi Gachagua of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during the second tier.
The 2022 presidential debate will be held one week later with details of it remaining unknown. It will take place at the Catholic University for Eastern Africa (CUEA) main campus in Karen, Nairobi, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Deputy President William Ruto indicated on Monday, July 18 that he was yet to decide whether or not he would attend the debate.
