Kenyans will have an opportunity to interview Nairobi gubernatorial candidates during the upcoming debate.

In a statement released on Thursday, July 7, the Presidential Debate Secretariat announced different channels through which interested individuals can send their questions.

You can now send a video recording of your questions through Whatsapp using a number the debate organizers provided.

A collage of Nairobi gubernatorial candidates Johnson Sakaja (l) and Polycarp Igathe .jpg

KENYANS.CO.KE

"Questions on video can be sent to the number 0796560560. The public is advised to keep their questions under 30 seconds, they may also be sent to the same number via text," the statement read in part.

The queries can also be shared via text message to the number 22843 or through the official presidential debate websites www.debates.co.ke or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Notably, the secretariat advised that all questions, whether in video or sms format should be forwarded before Saturday, July 9 at midnight to allow for collation and compilation. The questions will not be accessed by the candidates until the date of the live debate.

"We commit that the questions will be forwarded to the moderators who will select and endeavour to have as many questions as possible answered by the gubernatorial candidates," the organizers stated.

In addition, the Presidential Debate Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with organizations such as the Digital Publishers Association of Kenya (DPAK) to collaborate in covering the event.

Other organizations that penned the deal include the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Oxfam.

The gubernatorial debate is scheduled to take place on July 11, with Mark Masai (NTV), Ayub Abdikadir (K24), Serphine Achieng' (KBC), Zubeida Koome (KTN News) and Waihiga Mwaura (Citizen TV) selected to moderate the event.

Running mates will battle it out on July 19 while presidential flagbearers will face-off on July 26. All the debates will be hosted at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). 

This comes weeks after UDA candidate William Ruto raised reservations about attending the presidential debate while Azimio's Raila Odinga confirmed that he would take part.

An image of the presidential candidates during the 2013 debate  By Paul Kurgat, Kenyans.co.ke