History they say, repeats itself. On this day five years ago, the presidential debate was the talk of town. This was after the then Jubilee Party presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta boycotted the debate leaving his closest challenger, leaving the platform to the National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Uhuru would later seek to explain his decision to skip the debate. Speaking while on the campaign trail in Nyeri and Murang’a counties, Uhuru said he saw no reason to attend the debate when the Jubilee government’s development record in its first five years in office spoke for itself. But speaking in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, Raila said it was unfortunate Uhuru had skipped the debate when Kenyans expected them to explain their agenda.

Five years later, the shoe is on the other foot. It is Raila who has vowed to skip tonight’s debate, on grounds that he cannot share a platform with his challenger, Deputy president William Ruto. 

Last night, the debate’s organisers were frantically trying to convince Raila to change his mind. The efforts were intensified as Ruto confirmed he will be present for the debate that was expected to attract millions of viewers on TV stations.