This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
Deputy President William Ruto has thrown down the gauntlet to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, challenging him to accept defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
Speaking in Meru County on Sunday, Ruto said he is ready to face Odinga in the election, but only if the opposition leader is willing to accept the outcome.
"I do not have a problem competing with him, but he must first tell and assure Kenyans that in case of a defeat, he will accept the decision of the Kenyan voters," Ruto said.
He added that Odinga must also assure the country that he will not cause chaos if he loses the election.
Earlier, Odinga had denied reports that he plans to contest for presidency in 2022, saying that his calls for his party ODM to prepare for grassroots elections were "deliberately twisted" to mean he is in the presidential race.
"Raila Odinga strongly objects to reports appearing in the Sunday Nation today that put him in a presidential race he has not declared any interest in and which does not exist currently," Odinga's spokesperson Dennis Onyango said in a statement.
Onyango added that Odinga entered no race yesterday and knows no race that is on as reported in Sunday Nation, saying it's way too early for such reports.
