We were denied opportunity to talk about real issues at Deputy Presidential debate – Gachagua
By Martin Oduor, July 20, 2022
UDA’s presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed the running mate presidential debate which was held on Tuesday night July 19, 2022.
Gachagua, while speaking to Citizen TV’s Nimrod Taabu after the presidential debate, said he was denied the chance to address key issues that affect most Kenyans.
“Sijaridhika kwa sababu tulitaka tupewe nafasi tuongee ju ya maneno na maswala ambayo yanahusu Wakenya uchumi, tungetaka tuongee mambo ya afya hatukupata nasafi, mambo ya housing hatukupata nafasi. Tulitaka tuongee mambo ya public debt hatukupata nafasi.
(I am not pleased because we wanted to be given a chance to talk about key issues affecting Kenyans like the economy, health, housing and public debt but we were not given time to address those),” Gachagua said.
Gachagua laments debate only focused on few issues
The UDA presidential running mate claims organizers of the debate lied to them that they would be given a chance to talk about key issues only to restrict Martha Karua and him to just two agendas.
“Tulikua tumeambiwa hayo maswali yote yataulizwa lakini tumekaa sana sana kwa maswali moja mbili. Lakini yale maneno ambaye yanahusu Wakenya sana gharama ya maisha hatukupata nafasi ya kujadiliana.
(We were told the moderators would ask us questions about all those issues but they only dwelled on two agendas. We were denied a chance to address key issues affecting most Kenyans like the cost of living),” Gachagua complained.
The UDA presidential running mate further claimed that Kenya Kwanza has the best solution to the economic problems facing Kenyans and that organizers of the presidential debate denied him a chance to share their plan.
“Wakenya nikiwaskiza mahali pote nimetembea katika Jamhuri ya Kenya maswala ya kiuchumi ndo inatatiza Wakenya na ndio wanataka suluhisho. Nimeweza kuelezea lakini kwa kifupi, kama ningepata nafasi ya kutosha tuko na mpango mzuri sana ambayo tungepata nafasi ya kueleza Wakenya lakini hakuna shida kwa sababu tunaendelea na mikutano tutaendelea kueleza Wakenya,” he said.