Presidential candidates face off in debate

Presidential candidates take to the stage at the Brookhouse Interational School where the debate took place.

By Moses Njagih and Geoffrey Mosoku

Nairobi, Kenya: At 7:45pm Monday night Kenya rewrote its electoral history as an unprecedented debate among the eight candidates from among whom Kenyans will pick their Fourth President next month hit the airwaves.

Watched on television and listened to on radio by millions across the world, a process complimented by live streaming Online, the debate turned out to be the single most important bid in the road to getting a successor for President Kibaki.

Apart from the six initially announced by the debate organisers as the final list, there were also two more additions — Mr Paul Muite and Mr Mohammed Dida. They joined in following a court order that almost threw the debate in a spin but was sorted out through late invitation for the two to join the debate at Brookhouse School, Karen.  

The candidates started arriving at the venue over an hour before the kick off. Restore and Build Kenya’s James ole Kiyiapi was the first to arrive at the venue, followed by Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Peter Kenneth (Eagle Alliance), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani Coalition), Raila Odinga (CORD), Jubilee Alliance’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Mohamed Dida of the Alliance for Real Change.

“If the constitution is implemented and governance issues corrected then ethnicity will be a forgotten story,” declared Dida.

Prof Kiyiapi said: “I want a government of inclusion where ministers and accounting officers are picked fairly and on merit”.

Uhuru said: ‘Ethnicity has been a battle for resources where those in power feel they and their people are entitled to a bigger share of the cake. This can be dealt with through devolution and distribution of resources equitably.”

Ethnicity real

Karua’s opening line was: “To deal with ethnicity I will ensure we equalise development in all areas by deliberately giving more funds to undeveloped areas.”

Raila said: ‘Ethnicity is a disease of people who are in competition for resources but we now have a legal framework that can deal with this problem so that we can have a Kenya for all.”

Kenneth declared: “The problem of this country is due to poor and weak leadership and if it was dealt with speedily impunity could have been a thing of the past.”

Mudavadi insisted: “Ethnicity is real has brought a sense of insecurity among communities. If an audit was done in the public and private sectors you will find a lot of inequality along tribal lines.” 

The Sh100million event organised by the Media Owners Association saw some of the rivals shake hands, exchange pleasantries, and even hug, as some steeled the nerves and wracked the mind for the punch-line that would hung in the air long after they have left the stage — and hopefully earn them votes. 

It was full of symbolism as journalists Julie Gichuru and Linus Kaikai motioned the candidates to take their positions in front of the podium and then stand attention as the national anthem was belted out.

The candidates then began by introducing themselves to Kenyans, by name, professional and academic background; as well giving an overview of their plans for Kenya if elected.

Thousands of others followed the live feed on You Tube, Twitter, Facebook and a host of other Internet social media platforms

The leaders moved away from the rhetoric at public rallies to address key issues on how they intend to tackle issues like poverty and security.

The Live TV debate is modelled on the US elections; with the major difference being that the Kenyan case had eight candidates being interviewed within two hours whereas the US is mainly two candidates.

The presidential candidates in the March 4 elections faced-off as the country’s over 14 million voters got their chance to asses the candidates as they addressed key issues.

The debate provided Kenyans with a platform to make informed decision as to who should be the country’s Fourth President.

The historic debate dubbed “Presidential Debate 2013” was streamed live in the country’s eight television stations and 34 radio stations, with the candidates expounding on their policy proposals on key matters seeking to win the support of Kenyans to their bid.

With only 20 days to the election date, the candidates moved their campaigns away from the camaraderie of public rallies to the serious and more exacting engagement on live television.