The outgoing vice-president, William Ruto, found herself alone in the face of journalists after her main opponent, Raila Odonga, decided to boycott the appointment.
Le Monde with AFP
Two desk, a candidate: the “debate” planned between the two main candidates for the presidential election of August 9 in Kenya turned into an interview, Tuesday, July 26, two days after one of They announced that he would boycott this traditional pre-electoral meeting.
Raila Odonga, a historic figure of Kenyan policy supported by the outgoing president, Uhuru Kenyatta, announced Sunday that he would not participate in the debate, accusing his rival, the vice-president William Ruto, of wanting to elude certain themes, like corruption. Odinga, 77, has made the fight against it one of its main campaign themes in the face of a ruto with sulphurous reputation and which is the subject of corruption accusations in a case in progress since last year .
The organizers of the debate had however announced that the meeting-which precedes each election since 2013-was maintained according to the rules planned, that is to say by addressing many themes and without previously part of the questions Candidates, hoping to convince Odonga to change his mind.
“This is not the real candidate”
But Tuesday evening, William Ruto was alone on the stage of the auditorium of the Catholic University of East Africa, an empty desk by his side, to answer the questions of two journalists on the subjects of power purchase, debt, security, governance, ethics … The vice-president said: “My competitor is not there because he has no plan”, then he has renewed his attacks against Ononga, presented as a puppet of President Kenyatta as part of an alliance of the “dynasties” of Kenyan policy.
“My competitor is not there because he does not want to answer difficult questions […] In fact, my competitor could not come here because it is not the real candidate […] They are Pretexts, he dodges difficult questions, “he said. Asked about the accusations of corruption and appropriation of land by the force brought against him, he swore: “All terrain that I have is legally acquired.” “I propose in my manifesto to treat firmly, clearly, institutionally of the struggle Against corruption, “he added.
If four candidates are in the running, the presidential election of August 9 promises to be a duel between the historic opponent of Kenyan policy, Raila Odonga, and the outgoing vice-president, William Ruto.