Names of Journalists Who Will Moderate the Presidential Debate Revealed

According to a statement issued on Thursday, July 21, the first debate will be moderated by Smriti Vidyarthi of NTV and Ken Mijungu of KTN News and will feature George Wajackoyah of Roots Party and David Mwaure of Agano party.

NTV's news anchor, Smriti Vidyarthi. PHOTO FILE

KTN News anchor, Ken Mijungu. PHOTO FILE

The second part of the debate will be moderated by Yvonne Okwara of Citizen TV and Eric Latiff of Spice FM and KTN News and will feature the Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, and the Kenya Kwanza leader Dr. William Samoei Ruto.

Citizen TV's News Anchor, Yvonne Okwara. PHOTO FILE

Spice FM Host, Eric Latiff. PHOTO FILE

NTV's Joe Ageyo will moderate the panel discussions for both debates.

According to the presidential debate, various criteria were used to come up with the final list of the journalist that will be involved in the debate.

"The moderators have been selected based on rigorous criteria that abides to among other things the principles of impartiality, fairness and objectivity, a strong understanding of the Kenyan political landscape and the major issues of this election," the presidential debate secretariat stated.

The interviews are segmented based on the popularity of the presidential candidates as determined by recent opinion polls where Wajackoyah and Mwaure received less than 5%.

"We reiterate that under the Presidential Debates Guidelines, the moderators will select the questions to be asked and will not share the same with the candidates. They will not meet with any of the campaign teams or the candidates," the organizers stated.

The debate will take place at the Catholic University for Eastern Africa (CUEA) main campus in Karen. Nairobi

Presidential aspirants in Kenya. PHOTO FILE