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Presidential debate: What we know so far


Here is what we know so far about Presidential Debate slated for 5:30pm.

1. The debate is on
NTV’s Larry Madowo has gone live from the Catholic Universty where the debate will be broadcast from. He has a panel of pundits to dissect the debate.

2. The debate is two-tier
The six fringe candidates –Abduba Dida, Prof Michael Wainaina, Japhet Kaluyu, Joseph Nyagah, Cyrus Jirongo and Ekuru Aukot- will debate from 5:30pm, paving way for the main debate at 8pm that will supposedly be a contest between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa candidate Raila Odinga.

3. Only three presidential candidates have confirmed attendance
Prof Wainaina, Dr Kaluyu and Dr Aukot have confirmed that they would participate in the Presidential Debate.

4. Uhuru will not attend
He has in the past said he would give the debate a wide berth citing organisational issues. As late as 4pm on Monday, President Kenyatta’s handlers maintained that he would be a no show. There is a chance he might instead hold a Facebook Live session from 5:30pm.

5. Dida will not attend
The Alliance for Real Change presidential candidate said he would not attend Monday’s Presidential Debate citing ‘media biasness’.

6. Raila’s condition to attend
Mr Odinga was quoted by KTN News saying: “I will attend the debate if there is an opponent, there is no need to go if there is nobody to debate with.” He is scheduled to debate President Kenyatta from 8pm.