How President Uhuru Kenyatta missed the opportunity to win over more voters

- Jubilee Presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta decide to miss the much - awaited Presidential debate

- His close rival, NASA's Raila Odinga was present, with critics now putting the blame on Uhuru in case he loses elections on August 8th


In September 2016, in the run–up to the US elections, a Harvard professor, Alan Dershowitz, published a book with a curious title ‘Electile Dysfunction, a Guide to unaroused Voters’ in which he discusses the dilemma of voters having to choose between two competing ideologies. Monday’s presidential debate was every candidate’s chance to arouse once more, the undecided voter.

Thus, President Kenyatta will sweat in this election, unless he has some magic. By snubbing the debate, he stands a risk of missing the definitive vote. Political analyst, Prof Herman Manyora, has severally advised Jubilee not to underrate their rivals, famously saying, “The kind of anger in most Kenyans may well drive the Jubilee out of town by 10am”.

There is this constituency comprising the now all critical number of voters who enjoy the thrill of articulation of issues accompanied by a dash of eloquent erudition, a coherent, credible and relatable narrative and a sense of camaraderie for a tense political atmosphere.

Raila Odinga showed up for the Presidential debate alone

They yearn for issue driven politics. It also comprises citizens who want to see their leaders put on the spotlight to pronounce themselves on major issues and be held to account for any actions. I think Uhuru disappointed his supporters. People are generally thrilled by contests.

They wanted to see their general leading the charge, demolishing his opponent with crisp statistics, good oratory and killer punch lines. But mighty Goliath, whether quaking from accounts of Joshua’s triumphant match through a dry Jordan, didn’t turn up for battle. However, it is clear political debates have docked at the shores of Kenyan democracy.

Politicians should accept the new reality.