The 2013 presidential debate [Photo/voanews.com]
The most anticipated presidential debate is something you should not bother watching. It will be an event accompanied with serious commercials and unnecessary hype. There is nothing new you will get from the empty political rhetoric and cheap bragging from the host journalist. It is a barbaric aping of what the Americans do yet we are immature politically and economically.
What do you think the incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta will communicate that he has not been able to say in the last four years? When quizzed about development record he will direct you and ninety-year-olds to the government/Jubilee portal. Is his development in form of soft copy? I believe this should be physical structures and other issues that directly affect your social, economic and political life. If they dare ask him about the inflated SGR and the trademark corruption be sure to see a furious president forced not to walk out of the interview like his lieutenant Moses Kuria for the sake of fooling we ignorant Kenyans. There will be nothing new from the Jubilee representative.
Raila Odinga will be looking for every opportunity to discuss what Jubilee has not done instead of telling Kenyans what they stand to benefit if they vote in NASA. He will be obsessed with Anne Waiguru, SGR, Health saga and Euro Bond to the extent of linking every answer to the corruption scandals. In case they dare ask him about his record as Kenya’s most powerful Prime Minister, Odinga will blame Jubilee propagandists for using their looted cash to infiltrate the morally porous journalist. He will not offer anything palatable apart from his riddles and comical approach to serious issues.
This will be a two-man-affair with the other six seated like corpse passengers who are on a journey for aesthetic purposes or as an addition to one’s eulogy. Cyrus Jirongo will struggle to respond when asked about the role of the Moi regime in building his millions. While Joseph Nyaga will be narrating to you how he was part of a Pentagon that someone rigged out, Ekuru Aukot will only talk about education and forget about other fundamental needs. On their part, Michael Wainaina and Japheth Kavinga will focus on why Kenya needs political newbies something that will not appeal to many. However, Abduba Dida will be ready to venture into Churchill’s comedy thus; you will have some comedy to watch.
You are free to watch or not. However, in case you have any economic activity to engage in or a family meeting, please prioritize your personal engagements and let the media tell you what Raila/Uhuru said, what was avoided and the meaning of everything that transpired. You can also follow the non-professional political analysts who will tell you the truth weighed on the scale provided by their political gods.