Politics
Kenya election update: First Presidential debate to be held on Monday Feb. 11
Kenya Presidential front runners, Raila Odinga (l) and Uhuru Kenyatta (r). PHOTO/File
Kenya is gearing up for its first presidential debate to be aired live on 8 of the country’s television and 34 radio stations
on Monday February 11, ahead of the March 4 presidential and general elections.
The debate will be the first of its kind in Kenya and by extent in east and central Africa.
Kenya has the largest and fastest growing economy in the region, and the presidential elections are attracting a great deal of attention both locally and internationally.
Google will stream the debate online to the world, while international media outlets Reuters and CNN will also cover the event.
Six presidential candidates namely James ole Kiyiapi, Martha Karua, Peter Kenneth, Musalia Mudavadi, and front runners Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta have confirmed they will attend the debate which will be held at the auditorium of the Brookhouse International School, in the country’s capital Nairobi.
Details availed by the “Presidential Debate 2013” director of operations, Francis Munywoki, indicate that the debate will start at 7.30 pm local time (11:30 am EST) and will last for two hours where the candidates will field questions from two moderators – Julie Gichuru of the Royal Media Services (RMS) and NTV’s Linus Kaikai.
Munywoki revealed that during the debate, issues of governance, social services – health and education- security and resource management will be discussed. Experts along these fields have been identified and briefed on the nature of the debate.
The second debate which is scheduled for February 25, will discuss the economy, jobs, devolution (federalization), foreign policy and land.
It is anticipated that after the discussions, there will be expert analyses on thematic issues that will be discussed.