Debate dodgers betrayed Kenyans

The venue of the presidential debates at Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Photo: Boniface Okendo, Standard

Televised pre-election debates are a new concept in Africa. Kenya held its first ever debate for the 2013 presidential hopefuls, but it was just that; a show that provided temporary entertainment. It did not add value to the quality of the campaigns; neither did it occasion any discernible shift in biases.

The January 2017 debate between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump, held at Hofstra University in New York, was a test for the debaters’ temperament, grasp and preparedness in articulating national issues. Against Mrs Clinton, Trump appeared unpolished, ill-tempered and quite frankly, outrageous. On matters of policy, their differences were stark. And at the end of the day, Trump blamed the media for being biased against him.

Entertainment value

Kenyans expected that our much-publicised presidential-running mates televised debate would provide similar entertainment given, especially, the different temperaments and deportments of Deputy President William Ruto and the opposition National Super Alliances’ Kalonzo Musyoka. Fireworks was what Kenyans expected, but icy-cold water was poured on their heightened expectations when the gentlemen chickened out. Perhaps they took cue from Britain where, in May this year, limping Prime Minister Theresa May dodged a television debate.

On a Tuesday morning radio talk show, I listened to Raphael Tuju, Jubilee’s Secretary General, attempt to sanitise Ruto’s failure to turn up at the debate, but he sounded beleaguered and subdued. Tuju raised several issues, the main thrust of his argument being that televised debates are alien to us, and therefore unimportant. He contended that Jubilee was not consulted, that they did not know the questions to be asked, they did not know who the moderators were and who would be in the audience. Here, particularly, his reasoning was that there needed to be an equal number of supporters from both sides to even ‘heckling’ if there was need.

Tuju did not shirk from stating Jubilee was worried by the possibility of a shouting match during debate hence, the necessity for staying away. Above all, he expressly blamed the media for being anti-Jubilee. That was ridiculous for one who understands the dynamics of the media industry. To Muthiora Kariara who turned up and articulated his vision, I say kudos. Yes, there is more character at the tip of your little finger than the other seven shirkers put together, body and soul.

Kenya has over the years been sucked into the vortex of corruption and nepotism at very high levels; two key issues that play an integral role in ensuring Kenyans, rather than come together, drift apart. I will not belabour the mis-governance aspect of it, but a chaste leader, one who believes in the public image he projects of himself, one who stays within the embrace of chapter six of the constitution, should be ready for interrogation any day, any place, any time.

I am not privy to the questions that were to be asked, but keeping track of political developments in the country gives me a fairly accurate picture. The ducking of the debate makes fundamental issues around corruption, nepotism, morality; wealth acquisition and personal conviction stick out like a sore thumb. In public rallies, where speeches have been carefully rehearsed, these issues cannot be addressed.

 In previous one-on-one television debates, politicians have been dodgy. Nevertheless, if one hasn’t been caught with his hand in the till, if one’s moral uprightness means he has not caused a lesser soul pain, if the massive wealth associated with anyone was bequeathed or legally acquired, what was the reason for getting apprehensive? Would it be far-fetched to say every one of the seven cannot face the public in the eye and say ‘I am clean’ or ‘I am able’?

Media power

Human rights activist Malcom X opined that “The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the people”. That is still true today. The power of the mainstream media may have been infringed upon by social media, but good for mainstream media is the lack of structures and control on social media that have set it on the path of self-immolation, given the untruths, hate and loathsome ‘photoshopped’ stuff pushing clandestine agendas. The prudent still counter-check facts with mainstream media. As such, vilifying the press for speaking and seeking the truth is counter-productive for politicians.

The presidential running-mates who failed to turn up for the debate betrayed and insulted Kenyans; the very people whose votes they need, and the media. Theresa May did that to her people and ended up with a hung parliament. Job seekers, and that is what every one of the aspirants is, must face an interview panel to prove their worth. The disdain they showed for Kenyans, among them the ‘undecided voters’ who needed something to convince them, is unforgivable.The expectation is that the presidential debate slated for July 24 will yield something.

Mr Chagema is a correspondent at The Standard. [email protected]