34 Million Kenyans Watched the Deputy Presidential Debate Last Week

34 million Kenyans watched last Tuesday’s Deputy Presidential Debate, according to a new survey by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).

The debate organized by MCK, Media Owners Association and the Kenya Editors Guild was broadcasted live on all Kenyan television and radio stations and multiple online channels, including Facebook and YouTube.

The study revealed that 70 percent of the 34 million viewers watched the second-tier debate pitting Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition running mate Martha Karua and her Kenya Kwanza counterpart Rigathi Gachagua while 30 percent watched both debates.

Only 5 percent of the 34 million Kenyans that watched the debate followed the first-tier debate between Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae against her Agano Party counterpart Ruth Mucheru.

18.5 million of those who followed the July 19th debate are registered voters.

76 percent of the viewers watched the event on television, 19 percent followed on radio while 10 percent watched on social media. Seven million viewers accessed their radio stations and TV via the internet where YouTube was the main choice clocking 65 percent followed by Facebook at 31 percent.

“In terms of TV viewership, the findings further indicate that 67 percent watched the debate on Citizen TV followed by Inooro TV and NTV at 8 percent each, while KTN and KBC came third at 7 percent each,” MCK said.

“On the radio platform, Radio Citizen was most watched at 41 percent followed by Ramogi FM and Radio Jambo each at 7 percent.”

The survey conducted a day after the debate targeted Kenyans above 18 years from all counties and used computer Assisted Telephonic Interviews. A sample of 1,245 respondents with a confidence margin of 95pc was polled.

“While online consumption of media content is increasingly becoming critical, we are cautioning Kenyans to beware of manipulation deliberately pushed by purveyors affiliated to the various political competitors. We noticed a spike in the number of bots participating in online conversations around the debate,” MCK CEO David Omwoyo said.

The much-awaited presidential debate is set for Tuesday next week at the Catholic University for Eastern Africa (CUEA). It will feature presidential candidates David Mwaure Waihiga (Agano Party), Prof. George Wajackoyah (Roots Party), William Ruto (Kenya Kwanza), and Raila Odinga (Azimio).