Abduba Dida loses bid to stop presidential debates

Alliance for Real Change presidential candidate Mohammed Abduba Dida has lost a bid to stop two presidential debates.

Judge John Mativo on Friday ruled that Mr Dida’s petition to stop the media events planned for July 10 and 24 had no merit.

Mr Dida had sued Debate Media Limited and the Media Council of Kenya, the organisers of the presidential debate. 

The case against the media council was later withdrawn.

He wanted the debates temporarily stopped because they will feature two categories of candidates: those who have already garnered over five per cent popularity as per opinion polls and those who have not.

'Unfair'

Through lawyer Nicholas Orinda, he had argued that categorising the contenders for the top seat in the August elections was unfair and prejudicial to the other candidates.

He further argued the categorisation will not enrich "political discourse".

But in its defence, Debate Media Limited had told the court that Mr Dida had not shown how the format of the debates could jeopardise his candidature.

The candidate and his candidature did not stand to suffer any harm, the organisers said.

Judge Mativo upheld the arguments of Debate Media Limited, ruling that differentiation of candidates is permissible and does not constitute unfair discrimination.