Kenya Presidential Debates

05/06/2015

PANEX LAUNCHES FREE VIRTUAL TRADING FOR AFRICA http://bit.ly/1KgMMnR

02/11/2013

2 years ago, we set up the Kenya Debates secretariat, complete with a competent team of professionals working to bring to reality Kenya's first ever presidential debates. Setting up partnerships in Kenya was the biggest challenge, with boardroom meetings and proposals being met with doubt, disinterest, at best, distant support. Until connection after connection brought the proposal to a willing player at a major media house that initially had no interest in venturing beyond student debates. I'm a storyteller, and I appreciate the recording of history in honor of all those who worked to bring change.

So while most of us only know the half-story that Kenya's media houses brought you the presidential debates, the other half is not known: that a dedicated team of diaspora professionals based in Washington DC worked over a period of 2 years to write down the blueprint for the debates and push for its implementation. We still have our main long-term goal to achieve; the establishment of the Kenya Debates Institute. We planted the seed, others might water it in months to come. But today, as the first debate goes live, we celebrate the wonderful results of a lot of hard work. This one is for Kenya, for all in Africa who are watching Kenya, who seek real inspirational, visionary, pragmatic issue-based leadership.

Thank you, team! Frank, Regina, Ben, Ashford, I owe you all dinner at Swahili Village; Margaretta and Anderson, next time in Kenya; Ogendi, KCA and all its veterans who've demanded, "debate! debate!" every 5 years. And our dedicated webmaster (and my dream-maker), Preston Hall, for everything before, in-between and after. http://kenyadebates.com/contacts

presidential, senatorial and gubenatorial debates set to establish issue-based political discourse, identify leaders with integrity and vision, and set a foundation for Kenya Debates Institute.

02/05/2013

http://mwakilishi.com/content/blogs/2013/02/05/the-ruse-of-youth--charisma-and-populism.html

I hear younger candidates are challenging older politicians about wanting another chance at leadership to do what they failed to do time and again. Legitimate challenge, and yes, it deserves honest answers from veteran politicians seeking a tenth chance. They cannot superciliously assume tenure on t...

02/04/2013

glad tna has put the land debate on the table. it is not to be shunned. here we go:
1. what has continued to cause the bloodshed, homelessness and abject poverty is not the colonial categorization of land the DPM refers to; it is the post-independence out-of-control greed of a few, starting with the government of mzee Kenyatta, that took advantage of that unjust colonial structure. History cannot be invoked selectively for political convenience.
2. to truly address the land issue, the next administration cannot mask the individual greed factor, which means those in possession of large tracts of land across Kenya, directly causing the poverty and dispossession of the surrounding community, must let go what they stole, grabbed or inherited unjustly, accepting the due measure of justice. there's nothing like attaining peace without justice.
3. the categorization of government, private and community land is not that cut and dry. politicians and ordinary bullies have infiltrated far-flung communities and taken their land for themselves, from small acreage to thousands of acres, time and again, including killing the local owners in order to possess the land. this is still a reality.
4. talking of scoring political cheap shots, mr. kenyatta, you're doing it too. why mention kibera and not taita-taveta where the kenyatta family is known to own some 124,000 acres while the community lives as squatters? you cannot be afraid of facing your own demons if you are promising to kill those same demons so the country may heal.
5. all candidates must boldly answer the question, what is my individual role in this issue and how do I own up to it without conveniently coating it in the “we”?

yet another bold manifesto/vision. there's no shortage of them; from eagle to cord to tna. we have no shortage of brain-power. but there's a shortage of honest leadership we can believe in. vote wisely, people. don't be swayed by every euphoric launch and rally.

Uhuru Kenyatta Full speech - Jubilee Blueprint Watch KTN Streaming LIVE from Kenya 24/7 on http://www.ktnkenya.tv

02/03/2013

If there's one thing I'd beg of Kenyans, especially those well-intentioned towards maintaining peace through this elections period, do not attempt to kill the debate on land. Yes, it is hot, emotive and volatile. It is for these very fearful reasons that we need to have this debate to its wholesome…

02/01/2013

i'm glad the land issue is infiltrating public discourse and taking shape vibrantly. after 50 years of independence, it's time to welcome this debate with truth-telling, objective analysis, subjective reality (the personal story is paramount), and pragmatic solutions that must include justice and peace. we should not let pending elections and fear of violence stop this debate. whatever our political alliances, we must believe we can do it peacefully, truthfully, vigorously, compassionately and pragmatically. suppressing the debate is what is dangerous.

07/17/2012

I don't know how oil exploration licenses are calculated by I know to listen to my gut when it's warning me that my birthright is being sold for a bowl of porridge. Kenya has leased its 46 oil blocks to foreign oil companies at the cost of $300,000/license. In that same country of my birth, a cellphone operating license used to cost $25,000,000, now adjusted to $10,000,000. Best to start questioning early before big oil and corrupt government become an ogre too hideous to fight without loss of life and liberty.
http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Kenya+leases+all+oil+blocks++/-/1006/1452470/-/ilwokr/-/index.html

Kenya has now leased out all existing oil blocks to exploration companies as the country intensifies its oil search after its appetite rose from the Turkana find in March.

07/09/2012

"the arc of moral universe is long, but bends towards justice." but wait! what kind of sense does it make to have the icc trials after elections? you tell me, some thugs rob your house and kill your children, evidence is gathered showing who most likely planned it, then you decide to give the suspects a chance to be your watchmen before they are tried. that's the arc of an immoral universe; it bends towards mayhem

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/ICC+sets+trial+dates+for+Kenyas+cases/-/1056/1449500/-/phcpbg/-/index.html

Four Kenyans accused of masterminding the 2008 post-election violence will start their trial at The Hague a month after the next polls.

07/08/2012

Make the Kenya Presidential Debates Happen!

Do you observe unfolding campaigns and feel repulsed by the creation of demi-gods?

Do you watch Kenyan politics and feel disappointed by the lack of quality debate on issues?

Have you ever wished you had a way to ask the presidential aspirants the right questions?

Now you can do something. "Be the change you wish to see!"

Kenya Debates* needs your support in organizing the first ever presidential debate. We cannot do this alone.
Make a financial contribution of any amount. Here’s how:

Paypal: go to kenyadebates.com and click on "Donate". OR
Check or Money order to: Kenyan Community Abroad,
PO Box 2805, Washington, DC 20002

You can also join the debate network at facebook.com/kenyadebates. Take action!


Share this message with all your friends and networks!

*Kenya Debates is a secretariat operating under KCA's 501(c)(3) institutional oversight; in partnership with Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) which consists of 16 founding diaspora organizations across the globe; and in collaboration with like-minded organizations in Kenya.

kenyansabroad.org kenyadiasporaalliance.org

Building leadership that values every citizen

06/03/2012

I seriously begin to consider the need for a revolution in Kenya. How do we sit pretty and accept such intense poverty, impunity, mafia, murders, as if it's normal? Revolution and debate are not antagonistic. They must coexist. Do not be complacent just because you have a house, a car, a job to go to everyday. When was the last time you fed the hungry, clothed the naked and housed the homeless? Do not assume that the construction of superhighways and buildings on loans that guarantee wealth to foreign corporations is what the millions looking for a better life need. Real wealth must come from the people, through their creative labor and technological innovation. Believe me, it's there, in the villages, the youth, the graduates. This is where we must make our investment. 40% unemployment, drugs making their way to our children, gas prices higher than the US, while we celebrate motor and brick from China does not secure a future.

06/03/2012

05/13/2012

how do we begin to apologize for the resource inequality, the greed, the lack of foresight, the apathy... all that has left a part of us in squalor and struggle so dehumanizing it is hard to grasp. i cannot begin to imagine what it takes to get used to this level of poverty. i am guilty, guilty of ignorance, of not doing enough, of begging excuse that i have personal commitments. tell me, how shall we make amends and ensure that the least of us have the most basic of needs that allow for dignity and simple humanity? a decent roof over one's head, food and clothing... it's not the flash-floods, it's us.

Children trying to make their way to safety in Mathare Area 4A on May 13, 2012 after the Nairobi River burst its banks and swept away several houses. Photo/BILLY MUTAI