Kenya will hold presidential (and general) elections on March 4. For background on the elections, see here, here (.pdf), here, and here. For Ken Opalo’s forecast that Uhuru Kenyatta will win the first round, though not by enough to avoid a run-off, see here.
Yesterday, eight presidential aspirants met for the country’s first-ever presidential debate. The debate garnered massive attention – as the BBC tweeted, it was the “top trending topic on Twitter” at one point yesterday.
Here is my roundup of coverage and reactions:
- Daily Nation has a transcript. There was a livestream of the debate on YouTube, but I was unable to find a video of the event afterwards.
- BBC: “[Frontrunners Uhuru] Kenyatta and [Raila] Odinga in First Kenya Presidential Debate.” From the article: “It is doubtful that the two-hour debate will significantly influence many voters as most Kenyans vote along ethnic lines.”
- Standard Media focuses on the candidates’ remarks about ethnicity.
- The Guardian: “Kenya Tunes in as Uhuru Kenyatta and Rail Odinga Promise Peaceful Elections.”
- Reuters: “Raila Odinga, the frontrunner in Kenya’s presidential election, taunted his rival Uhuru Kenyatta in a debate on Monday, asking how he would be able to rule from the Hague, where Kenyatta goes on trial shortly on charges of crimes against humanity.”
- AP: “Kenyatta insisted that he will be able to manage the task. ‘If the people of Kenya do decide to vote for me as their president, I will be able to handle the issue of clearing my name while ensuring the business of government continues and our manifesto and agenda for Kenya is implemented,’ Kenyatta said.”
- Daily Nation: “Candidates Face Off Over Education, Health and Security.”
- Nairobi Star: “Raila Dwells on Jobs, Shies Away from Land.”
Did you watch? What was your take?
Sahel Blog 
Interesting to see these things spreading. Wonder if it’s more likely to be done in personality-based systems than party-based ones.
Good roundup. I have the video in my post “A few thoughts on Kenya’s presidential debate” http://wp.me/pJo82-16J at the AfriCommons Blog.
Anybody have any wild estimates of the probability that Kenyatta is convicted on any of the charges he faces?
Of the 4 men under charge, Kenyatta’s case looks to be the weakest especially after one of the major witness lined up against him recently withdrew his testimony. I highly doubt he will be convicted especially given the caliber of defense lawyers that his lined up. Sang, the radio presenter, has the most damning evidence. With Muthaura, former head civil servant & Ruto, influential MP & current VP candidate, it will depend on how co-operative state witnesses are.