DP Ruto, Raila avoid each other at crucial meeting with Chebukati
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati delivering his opening speech at Windsor Hotel in Nairobi during a meeting between his commission and presidential candidates on June 29, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua left the meeting soon after the DP's arrival.
Deputy President William Ruto was a no-show at morning session of the electoral agency's critical consultative meeting with presidential candidates at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi.
Only Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, George Wajackoyah (Roots Party) and David Waihiga (Agano Party) attended the morning session chaired by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Dr Ruto arrived shortly before 11:45am flanked by Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki. Interestingly, Mr Odinga and his running mate Ms Martha Karua left the meeting soon after the DP's arrival.
"We're sorry for leaving the meeting early but duty calls," Ms Karua announced before exiting the room.
The two opposing sides met outside for handshake before DP Ruto entered the room and the Azimio pair left for the day.
Earlier, Dr Ruto, who was attending a Kenya Kwanza economic forum in Tharaka Nithi, was represented by his campaign secretariat head, Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, and UDA secretary-general Veronica Maina.
Mr Nanok said Dr Ruto was away attending an event and would not attend the event.
"Our candidate has a scheduled meeting earlier which he is attending but we are here to represent him.
Planned to come
"He had planned to come but the timings for this meeting changed," Mr Nanok said.
But Mr Chebukati responded that the time had been set for 9am and nothing had changed.
Mr Odinga and Mr Waihiga were accompanied by their running mates Martha Karua and Ruth Mutua, respectively.
Mr Chebukati has announced that the commission would hold a national election conference on July 11-12 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
