Kenya is set to host the presidential election debate on July 12, 2022, ahead of the August 2022 General Election.
Speaking during a media sector working group forum in Mombasa on Monday, August 9, Kenya Editors Guild President Churchill Otieno also noted that the second debate would be held on July 26, 2022.
He pointed out that aspiring presidential candidates ought to submit their candidatures between May 30 and June 10 in line with the timelines issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
"Given that the nomination for presidential candidates ends on June 10, 2022, we have set the first presidential debate for July 12, 2022, and the second one on July 26, 2022," Otieno stated.
During the forum, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati affirmed that elections would be scheduled on August 9, 2022, unless stopped by the Judiciary.
The IEBC boss maintained that public officers seeking to contest in the 2022 polls ought to resign six months before the election – pointing out that the Court of Appeal had set aside an initial ruling by Justice Njagi Marete which had given the public officers a reprieve.
The premier presidential election debates, which occurred in 2013, saw eight candidates go back and forth on various agendas and issues affecting the country.
The candidates included Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, James Ole Kiyiapi, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, President Uhuru Kenyatta, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Mohammed Abduba Dida, and Senior Counsel Paul Muite.
The debates have also not been without their intrigues. In 2017, Uhuru withdrew from one of the debates where only his closest competitor had qualified to participate.
The debate proceeded with the ODM candidate having a solo platform to express his campaign idea.
As the country marks 365 days to the election, politicians are gearing up for what would be a hotly contested poll primarily for the top seat where the top brass have already thrown their hat in the ring.
Among the aspiring candidates include Deputy President William Ruto, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Mudavadi, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua. Raila is yet to declare his candidature.
