Photo: Capital FM

Kenya to hold first ever presidential debate with six candidates racing to State House.

Six presidential candidates invited for Kenya's first presidential debate have confirmed attendance. Sharleen Samat, the Presidential Debate 2013 production manager said, "It is all system go, for the historic moment in Kenya. Today (yesterday) we are just doing final rehearsals with the members of public who will make part of the audience and maybe some presidential candidates will be coming later in the day for the same, just to make everything goes as planned," she said. She said about 200-250 pre-selected audience will attend.

Giving details of the event; those selected as audience to the debate are expected to be at Brookside School (the venue of the debate) as early as 4PM, and be seated in the auditorium by 6PM. Live broadcasts will begin at 6.30PM and at the same time presidential candidates are expected to be within the precinct of the event to take up their debate stands exactly at 7PM.

There will be a separate live studio, with a reporter and three analysts who will give pre analysis and post analysis of the debate.

Candidates Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, parliamentarian Martha Karua, Assistant Minister for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 Peter Kenneth, and former Education Permanent Secretary James ole Kiyiapi are expected to take part in the two hour event.

Sharleen said their secretariat had received over 5000 questions sent via social media and emails concerning the debate, however three predesignated members of the audience will be allowed to ask preselected questions and the rest will be asked by the debate hosts. Candidates will have two minutes to answer a question and 30 seconds to respond to rebuttals from their peers on the stage.