Election Watch: Kenya Presidential Debate 2013 - An Idea whose Time has Come

Presidential Debate

In the last few days it has been death by gubernatorial debates especially Nation TV and Citizen TV which have gone full throttle in securing the gains of the new constitution and expanded democratic space we enjoy. That's not all, with no incumbent running for the March 4 poll the media executed a coup of sorts through the media owners association.

First ever live presidential debate in Kenya now set for February 11th #PresidentialDebateKE
— Presidential Debate(@KenyaDebate2013) January 16, 2013

The media fraternity came up with the concept of a presidential debate. The first of it's kind in Africa. At first it was looking mission impossible with initial dates set moved to February 11, 2013 because of a number of factors key among them being a crowded presidential race and no primaries conducted as at that time.

However, this debate looks highly likely and it should be a significant occurrence in the elections calendar. Currently, we are posed for a run off going by the current polls however, there also a huge segment of undecided voters in these opinion polls.
Gainers and Losers
The small parties have all to gain in these debate because they get to share a podium with the two biggest parties. I have been listening to the small parties and my take is that they have a clear policy articulation strategy. However, they are faced with budget constrains and sometimes a media that does not give them airtime

CORD stands to lose the most especially with presidential candidate Raila Odinga who is still the Prime Minister of Kenya. Raila is good with big crowds in his trademark Kitendawili's but it is a wait and see if he will have the incubent syndrome where he is NOT used to being used hard questions which sometimes might look off to someone enjoing the trappings of power. The other to gain/lose is the deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. Though, not a reigning minister he is the immediate Finance minister before he was forced by civic society to step down because of Hague case. He will be expected to explain to the nation on how they intend to go about the business of  governing the country while they have cases to answer at the Hague. Also, Jubilee launched an excellent manifesto which he will be expected to explain how they will raise funds to execute that five year plan.

For Musalia Mudavadi who is currently trailing the two but has had the backing of former head of state and looks increasingly as a state house project. It will be great to watch Mr. Mudavadi in the same stage with his former party boss Raila Odinga.

Other interesting things to looks for is the chemistry between Martha Karua [the ONLY woman running for presidency this year] and Uhuru Kenyatta and also chemistry between Uhuru Kenyatta and Peter Kenneth whom am told do accommodate each other.

Lastly, I will be looking for Prof. Ole Kiyapi who has been presenting his agenda in a coherent format. The key question is will be professing or engaging.
Facebook Page: Kenya Presidential Debate
Twitter: @KenyaPresidentialDebate2013
Website: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/elections

The Presidential Debate 2013: Meet the Presidential Candidates

Presidential Debate Poster

We have been living in some pretty exciting times as a country. These developments we all agree are the fruits of enacting a new constitution in 2010. One of this has been the opening up of democratic space and decentralization of power in to the counties. These lead to Nation TV to launch governor debates in some counties and since these are new positions you had all the aspirants open to this idea. These, in my opinion, lead to the launch of presidential debates idea by eight media houses.

These Media houses are;

• 1KTN
• Citizen
• NTV
• Kass TV
• K24
• KBC
• KISS TV
• QTV

Now that we have the guys behind the debate, we need to know who are the candidates and their odds in debating. The presidential field is crowded with more than 15 presidential entries so far. So what do we know about this folks. In this post I will begin by enumerating all the presidential candidates. Then in subsequent posts will try to dig more on each presidential candidate. Also, I am interested in finding more information on Key figures behind these parties since under the new constitution dispensation parties will NOT be rubber stamps as was previously the case.

1.       Kalonzo Musyoka - Vice President [Wiper Party]

2.       Raila Amolo Odinga - Prime Minister [ODM party]

3.       Uhuru Kenyatta - Deputy Prime Minister [TNA party]

4.       Musalia Mudavadi – Deputy Prime Minister [UDM Party]

5.       Martha Karua Former Justice & Constitutional Affairs Minister []

6.       William Ruto – Former Agriculture Minister and Higher Educational Minister [URP]

7.       Charity Ngilu – Minister of Water

8.       Eugene Wamalwa – Justice & Constitutional Affairs Minister [New FORD Kenya]

9.       Peter Kenneth

10.   James Ole Kiyapi – Former Educational Permanent Secretary

11.   Raphael Tuju – Former Foreign Affairs Minister and Presidential Advisor

12.   Cyrus Njirongo – Former Youth for KANU operative

Presidential Debate

Website: www.presidential debate.co.ke

Email: info@presidentialdebate.co.ke

SMS: 2282

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/presidential.debate

Presidential Debate 2013: Will the Presidential Candidates Show up?

Presidential Debates 2013

The Kenyan Media announced the entry of presidential debates in Kenya on October 10, 2012. The big question that remains to be answered is whether the presidential candidates will show up. The presidential debates initiative by Kenyan Media is a noble idea whose time has come. However, it seems the media have stolen the thunder from the executive who would have come up with a commission to run debates like the US.

The doubts I have with this media lead initiative is whether the organizers will remain neutral. Given the fact that they are organizing the debate, choosing the moderators [in our case they have already chosen the moderators] and airing the content. In the unveiling they announced PWC will be involved in checking the overall transparency of the process BUT do they have the competency to do this and have they done this anywhere else?

The other scenario I foresee is this presidential debate in Kenya will be one huge advertising festival.

The Existing Gaps

The media seemed to have been in a hurry in coming up with this initiative because one week after the big announcement we are yet see a website. It could be in beta stage though.

The other sentiments I have picked up is that some presidential candidates are NOT so much into this debate idea. Going by tweets from bloggers close to the main presidential candidates, the might pass off the debating idea.

Sentiments on Twitter: #PresidentialDebateKe

@OleItumbi @bettymurungi @PeterOpondo Media develop dates, announce them in press ads & then plead with candidates to appear,there will be a major snub
@OnyangoRachael It willl fail. RT @OleItumbi The media decided there will be a Presidential debate, chose moderators, set dates.... thats Media Dictatorship
@syindu_mutongoi @Oleitumbi and Media should stop this nonsense of having 11 Presidential Candidate on a debate. That is a market #PresidentialDebateKe
@KohadhaRoy As much us #PresidentialDebateKE is a MOA initiative, dictating the moderators isn't a good idea. Julie Gichuru and Linus Kaikai Naaaa!
@LarryMadowo So we're going to have a #PresidentialDebateKE with 17 candidates. Death by debate, last (wo)man standing wins

Other Outstanding Issues

How do you moderate a debate of twelve presidential candidates in one and half hours?

Some of the presidential candidates might gang up on the front runner. How do you prevent that?

How do we get this culture of presidential debate because what the media are doing is they are taking advantage since the incumbent is NOT running?