The Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah has withdrawn from the 2022 presidential debate.

Wajackoyah announced his withdrawal from the event through a statement his party issued on Tuesday, indicating that Wajackoyah will not be part of it.

The party cited predetermination of the debate as the reason for the withdrawal of their leader from the debate.

According to a notice issued by the party’s spokesperson Wilson Muirani Gathoni alias Jaymo Ule Msee, the party could not allow its leader to be the subject of ridicule.

"We will not subject the incoming President to the joke of an already predetermined debate," the statement read in part.

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The party also said the media does not decide the outcome of an election and refused to be relegated to inferior positions.

“The notion that some candidates are trailing others or some leading others is baseless. We refuse to be counted as 'hers' in this important democratic duty of seeking the presidency,” the statement read in part.

Roots party also said the Presidential Debate Secretariat did not address concerns Wajackoyah has raised in a later dated July 21, 2022.

Nevertheless, the party said its presidential flag bearer is ready to face the other three presidential candidates on a shared podium.

“We would like to however state that our candidate is available to share the same podium with all the four presidential candidates as we define our agenda to all Kenyans,” Roots Party said.

Wajackoya’s withdrawal comes just hours after the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga announced the also would not be attending the much-anticipated debate.

Wajackoyah was expected to debate the Agano party leader David Mwaure on the second tier of the presidential debate.