THE ROLE OF MEDIA WHILE THEY COVERING POLITICAL DEBATE

Media is the ways that large numbers of people receive information and entertainment through radio, print or television and internet. Media is the most powerful tool of communication. It helps promoting the right things on right time. It gives a real exposure to the mass audience about what is right or wrong. Even though media is linked with spreading fake news like a fire, but on the safe side, it helps a lot to inform us about the realities as well."Media has a constructive role to play for the society. Today News Channels and even some Newspapers is mouthpiece of some social issues, which helps us to estimate the realities of lives,some of roles of media are:

1. Media expose the politician for who they are

The presidential debate the media asked the politician about cases on corruption, the land issue and the candidate came out clearly and expressed their point on view on those issues that affect people.

2. Media also helps the politician to convey each party pledges to the audience

Politician like the president Uhuru Kenyata and Hon.Raila Ondinga had their manifesto that they presented to the people, with the help of media; people get to know about the political parties pledges.

3.the media help us to see how well one candidate can huddle issue, example issue like the ICC,the land issue,Uhuru kenyatta did handle the questions well and Kenyans were convinced that he should be given a chance to be the president despite that he is facing charges, he has to face in August.

4.the media helps one candidate to increase popularity in those live coverage ,like Dida,from no where,3 weeks to elections he came to the presidential debate and people, liked him thus voting for him, he did well than on,Martha Karua,Hon.Paul muite and Hon,Olekiyapi.Dida gained popularity because media played a big role.

5. Promote globalization policy, ie, people watch what is happening through Yutube, twitter and social media, we also get a chance to make a choice; we compare them with their competitor and make a choice.

6.Due to media we also get a chance to see how our politician are perceived by foreign governments, we get also to evaluate our leader on their knowledge and their background.

7.The politician talk about their past, example Marther karua asked Hon.uhuru Kenyatta on the issue of land in Taita Taveta and the land they owe as a family is alleged half of the country, through media we get to see the politician asking one another questions and also the media asks questions on our behalf.

8.The media get to challenge politician goals and we get political analysis from the political experts like Mutahi Ngunyi on what is likely to be the outcome, and thus helps the audience to make an informed choice

In my conclusion the media cannot do without the politician or the audience, has played an important role in order to focus on the social issues in almost every era. It is the fact that in most of the eras, media were not being given free and fair chances to explore the issues of society more openly than it is being given now; but we can't deny this fact that the issues were always raised in order to provide justice to the people. The media exercises its greatest influence during political debates. Political candidates need television, newspapers, radio, magazines, and the Internet to reach voters with their message. Candidates who lack an effective media strategy are likely to be destined for failure.media as a tool plays a big role in political parties.