Kenya: Presidential Candidates Face Off in Final Debate

ALLAFRICA.COM

THE STAR [25/02/13]

By Dickens Olewe

Photo: Dickens Olewe

Presidential candidates face off in final debate. [SOURCE: http://allafrica.com]

Eight presidential candidates faced off in the second and final debate with only a week to go to the general elections. Uhuru Kenyatta who had been expected to miss the debate went against his word to take part in the debate.

The three and half hour debate was moderated by Citizen TV Uduak Amimo and KTN's Joe Ageyo. The candidates gave their policy views on issues to do with the economy, corruption, causes of violence during election time and land and natural resources.

The debate on corruption and land drew the most debate and reactions from the candidates and in social media. The candidates were asked to answer to some of the corruption allegations that have been leveled against them over the years, a situation which resulted to confrontation and accusations of impropriety amongst them. The Goldenberg scandal was brought up with Musalia Mudavadi, Paul Muite and Martha Karua trading accusations of complicity and role in the corruption scandal which cost the Kenya economy billions of shillings.

Raila Odinga was taken to task about the acquisition of the Molasses plant, the maize and the Kazi kwa Vijana scandal. Uhuru Kenyatta was asked to come clean on his tenure as the Finance minister, Mohammed Dida was asked to clarify his business of facilitating human labour to the Middle East.James Ole Kiyiapi was asked to answer to corruption in the ministry of Education where money for the free-primary education programme was embezzled.

On the land question, Mr Kenyatta was asked to account for how much land his family owned, he revealed that his family owns 30,000 acres in Taita Taveta, he defended his family ownership of huge tracks of land, Kenyatta said that his family's land had been acquired through a willing buyer, willing seller arrangement. He also said that that he has not been charged or accused of impropriety and dared his competitors to table evidence to the contrary.

Mohammed Dida was once again the talk of social media with his witty remarks, his closing remark was widely talked about in social media, he said, "Politicians are working together for interests, lets join hands as Kenyans & work together for prosperity."Kenyans go to the polls on 4th March 2013.