Raila defends move to boycott presidential debate

Odinga who campaigned in Meru County on Tuesday accused his opponent William Ruto of being tainted by corruption allegations, adding that a debate with him would provide a platform to sanitize his past. 

“Mimi siwezi enda kwa debate na mtu ambaye ameiba mali ya uma kiasi hicho...sitaenda...,” said Odinga.

Odinga said debating Ruto would provide him (DP) the opportunity in the televised debate to propagate lies and shield himself from the corruption cloud.

“Mimi sitaenda kubishana na mtu kama huyo yeye aningojee kwa debe tuonane hapo,” said Odinga.

The ODM leader returned to Meru County on an invitation by Njuri Ncheke elders, who hosted him at their holy grounds in Nchiru Tigania.

Odinga and Karua held rallies in Tigania and Igembe where they rallied the Meru region to hand the Azimio ticket a win.

With Kiraitu Murungi and Peter Munya backing his candidature alongside other candidates from the region, Odinga expressed confidence he would get better numbers compared to the past.

Odinga stood his ground and dismissed any possibility of sharing a podium with Ruto accusing him of grand corruption.

The ODM Party leader mourned the 35 people who died in the Nithi bridge accident saying his first assignment in office will be to redesign the road and the Nithi bridge to end the carnage.