driving the country towards bankruptcy, ah, rampant inflation is making survival a daily struggle for the people in 45 minutes, d, w. for what people have to say matters to us. m. that's why we listen to their stories. reporter every weekend on d w. this is a special edition of dw news. africa coming to you from navy can go to the pulled in a high stakes selection next week. but when roll politicians we rented, mod and ganga sharpening their marketing as what police officer has done a blind eye. and this will be fully free and fed with the 2 leading presidential

candidates, neck and neck. we ask, who's in the running, where do they come from and what do they stand for? and revolting in this election really make a difference. i'll sit down with kenyans and ask them, do they have faith in politics and politicians also coming up on the show. it's fame, parts of the political game does, having a well known name help and independent gets elected, or i've left high and dry without party political back and just wanting 5. what kind of parliamentarians or female? why are so few women being elected to public office? we meet an aspiring women's representative who says that have to change a welcome to nairobi and welcome to a special coverage of democracy in action. right here in kenya. my name is dusty

money. now this election season in kenya is an exceptional tide. thousands of politicians are fighting for a seat either in parliament or county assemblies, as governors and senators, even as a country president and millions of kenneth are fighting for survival as price as saw due to the drought. the pandemic and the war in ukraine, but violence, both verbal and physical, can also be a vote winner. some politicians paid to have their opponents wrapped up, or shouted down by hiring an armed gang, or even renting a mob. d. w 's, maria mila filed. this special report from may will be election season and kenya means money making season kenyans was struggling to survive. earn a living by cheering for a candidates. it doesn't matter which party, as long as the money is right, it's not about ideology. it's about putting food on the table. single mother, marina. we know mobilizes crowds for now ruby's women representative. she normally

please me. i'm filtering over him. can they get like a 100 women? the ladies lou justice lane themselves. the difficulties the have india home. there was please, so that we made room with just not been those things don't after that at least you, you've been some cause. when a good day, each woman goes home with around $4.00 to $9.00, says marine enough to feed a family for about 3 days. women make up half of the registered voters. that's why it's important for politicians to win them over our suit. we don't have any jobs, like for children, they're supposed to go back to school. we don't have any money. so when we had the verizon run you somewhere, we live run for leads. but it's not only women who are paid by politicians. criminal gangs around now will be do their best business during election season. they're hired by incumbent,

aspiring and peace governors and even presidential candidates. they tell us without arsenal violence, without us being sent to intimidate others. these politicians would never be where they are. these gang leaders claim they can mobilize a 1000 men for political rally if a politician wants his opponents vote is scared. we use canes. if there are 50 supporters, we have 30 people surround them. we start beating them. the majority gets scared and go back home. he sent us this video from a couple of weeks ago. his gang preparing for a rally, armed with sticks, one carries a pistole. it often ends in a confrontation with the police. earlier this year, they were paid to attack supporters of presidential candidate william router. the canada says the goal was to disturb his rally to make it clear that this was his

opponents. her a parliamentary candidate was injured. brutal blamed a dingo for the violence writing. he hired innocent, desperate and jobless young people to shed innocent blood. he's not wrong, the gang leader says, if they could earn money a better way, they would. sometimes they even get as is the nation requests. he says, you'll get an offer of a few 1000000 shillings, tens of thousands of euros to kill someone or to cut off body parts. if i amputate your leg, you'll have to deal with that for the rest of your life. you'll probably never get tempted to run for political position again. ah, for the killings, they sometimes higher row police officers. he claims they help with the cover up. we approached the canyon police to confront them with his claim, but they did not respond to repeated interview requests. now did elizabeth,

why there i was running for a seat in the county assembly my robbie. my, when she went to cause to vote during nominations in april, she was attacked by an angry mob. i remember being bullied for one side and that as we're pulling my hair was, as you can see i, i had bellow some few as strides of my hat. so i was really painful because i'm head to the desired torches and mothers head dead gone. they took her clothes and assaulted her sexually. she says she was so terrified, she gave up her candidacy. i had been people been killed. i had seen people get in last saw this kind of things really made me feel so bad. so it really, it really intermittently been myself. yeah. she shows as a death threat she received on social media after the attack reform. so i actually received a lot of these messages. this says that after that after they're 14,

i would get lost, like no one would find me. in recent months, there have been reports of aspiring politicians who've been attacked or found dead . electoral commissioner, justice ne, i says the practice of politicians hiring thugs is only possible because there's no real accountable. see if people can be stopped and cause to vote for somebody else. obviously that is lawlessness. the only thing that we can do is appeal to the government of the day to make sure that people are not intimidated. critic say these practices are undermining the democratic election process. the people pay to do this, say they are too poor and hungry. they don't have a choice the choice is at the ballot

box and the biggest prize there is a presidency. the incumbent we're looking at is stepping down because he's not allowed to run for a 3rd town. who can, is guaranteed a new president from this election. although the leading figures a very familiar faces, full candidates vying and the night before best general election. the 2 leading candidates deputy president, william, brutal and veteran opposition. eda ry loading. let's start with loading. the 77 year old is a veteran of canyon politics from the 1980s. you paid a major role in the opposition movement for a multi party democracy during the also retiring rule of kenya's then president, daniel arab boy, i think i feel so far in his 4 attempts at the presidency. but the challenge, the legitimacy of the result, 3 times the dispute in 2007 let the deadly clashes, which killed over 1200. the place more than 600000 in the current campaign

as promising to fight corruption and poverty deliver better health care and education, and their roughly $50.00 monthly allowance for unemployed use. his main challenge for the presidency is william brutal. he has more humble beginnings and a set of war and his 1st pair of shoes. at the age of 15. he sees himself as a man of the people, a voice for the average canyon against the establishment. even though he is very much part of it. he's health key, political position for years. it was common and can in politics. he has changed parties several times. even being part of right now didn't go campaign. in 2007, the international criminal court charged him in connection with the violence that broke out after the vote. but the case later, the brutal current campaign is promising to prioritize the needs of the poor who was suffering under storing food prices. he wants to invest in agriculture to help can produce its own food. he's also pledging jobs in the 0 corruption policy. even

though he has been repeatedly accused of corruption over the course of his career for voters and therefore for the leading candidates, perhaps the most pressing issue is for security presidential hopeful, william brutal sat down with the w mariama la agriculture is the most competitive sector that we have in kinda weather when you talk about t, you talk about coffee, about flowers, you do a vegetable, we are competing internationally. that is absolutely no reason why we cannot produce enough for bays. no reason why for 1000000 can and stuffing. what we're going to do is we have fade in our plan. we're going to have a 30000000000 re for being fund for farming ports. we are targeting 2000000 from us today. they are net important for foot. we want them to produce enough for them

to eat and we want them to produce a sap last for us to feed the money for his challenger, relo, dingo. the emphasis is less about feeding the markets and more about feeding the masses. the central to us that people have food enough food to each other way. we will see that you're going to create reforms in architectural sector so that we move toward food self sufficiency as an issue. and here we are going to do some incentives and also some subsidies to the farmers so that the can be able to produce more. the problem as has been here, that the farmers of field should change in terms of assistance from tons with farming implement. and also with the coach type of seeds and

also for the laser. so bringing down the coastal for to, to contextualize what's really at stake in this election. we've brought together a group of canyons drawn from different backgrounds to explain to us what really matters to them or rather, or for some of them what's not important to this election. so i just want to quickly take a poll, who is definitely going to vote the selection, etc. sheila, i'm very surprised to see that you are going to vote in many discussions. you had given me the impression that voting was not an option for you. i needed kim okoye feel like i can vote for all right. so for the rest of you here, imagine you have candidates where you really feel passionately about what are the issues that you think they're going to resolve that haven't been resolved yet. joseph let stuck with you with i believe the coastal freezing is going on. cool. i've always for the last 2 for the last minute. yes. because this is with life has gone very down. i

want someone really, really knew someone who hasn't been there before. so that it is a mistake that of me voting for them and then government. i can take that. but if i haven't made sticky notes, then that means i had to be accountable for would have for everything. so when i tried to dig out and maybe try to find some news from the youth, most of them i really jokers, which is healing them to involve themselves in crime and some other stuffs. and also something is not to live. it's the construction of lending institutions like colleges, maybe. yeah. so that one would really help the youth. okay. so what i'm hearing you guys talk about all sounds very familiar to me as a canyon and also on the continent of africa. but some are what makes you think that this time around your preferred candidates of choice is going to make a difference. but most to this time around have decided to take up

a little positions and the really new weight. so when we talk about the younger candidates, we're obviously not talking about the presidential candidates in this case. so you mean you're parliamentary and more local leaders? yeah. okay. sure, you said earlier that you think the new entrants into the ring or that one of the new entrance is probably going to be the solution bearer for you. are you hopeful, given that the systems haven't changed? i don't think it's in terms of change everything. i just think is a fresh face, fresh ideas as opposed to the norm, but we've had for the past 10 and more years. all right, so should we assume them that everybody on this table is voting for new fresh faces? who only happen to be to? is that the assumption mimicking at this table? because otherwise, you're voting for the theme crop of leadership that has existed in kenya, near b, e from or miss enough. this blame loud voted from with call protest. so the credit for not with us on this,

on the course as to what are you protesting against the corrupt route in these countries with which it's really for tumors on. so the living stand it was before when we took our boat out from lake area everywhere you will see you on to our blo children identification card. you are, you love to be if you want them to work for you to love to be like every kisses you're so it's really offered to us now calion citizens. and these could actually be the issues that are affecting a lot of young people. because in october of this year, the independent electoral boundaries commission, thus the electoral body here in kenya began a process of registering new voters. the hope was that they would get 6000000 new names to that register by the end of february of 2022. when they were closing that register, they had only managed to get 2500000 new registered voters. however, as that was happening, digital, the famous people, boasting probably more numbers and to put 5000000 through their names in the ring

and said they wanted to become politicians. well, i caught up with some of them and i want to find out if they believe that they can convert lakes to votes. ah, jessie jasper, more than me is just in time for the last dance, as this family event winds down in kenya's highlands. what on me aspires to be a member of parliament, and after everyone has relaxed, he takes a microphone to do what he really came here for to campaign my parents bodenal's were young and come in. the community actually raised me. they took me to school and i have to give buck with what with my life. and madonna is no stranger to the microphone. as m. c. jesse, one of kenya's, best known comedians about charlie more than a kayak, one occupant. he has a strong following booth on stage and online. as a funny man on the campaign trail, he leaves his manifesto interest, sketch ah,

compelling even passes by to stay and listen. being famous actually goes a long way, cuz over 65 percent of my company is because of the name, but by the grace of god, i got as mc jesse's. when i came here, i had to tell them, jesse is my actual name. dugger 8 itself is where the urban sprawl feeds into rural poverty. john, be quick. i an independent candidate and popular radio show host his frustrations daily. as parliamentary candidate, she grew up here and has plans for the area. she's hoping her shared experience with local voters who give her the edge she needs to win. but as an independent, she finds it difficult to campaign on issues. you know, having an issue with campaign when you don't have money and you will go for meetings and people will be disappointed because you didn't leave something or you didn't offer them something because that's how our politics hasn't been in our

designed mark bigler runs or research and marketing consultancy nairobi, he ones that a famous name on its own is not enough to get anyone over the finishing line. now they might be nationally known, but the social media falling as people were voting and say, i want to follow you. i like what you had to say when i listen to the radio. when i saw you on the tv, what the bottle will be on, on the guns, to love to come in when it, by, you know, basically winning hearts and minds. and probably in, to some extent being on the right political party of that particular piece. because that might even play a bigger role than your mainstream media background. so these are sort of the dynamics that i think have a role to be back in south. the mentee, the local council of elders, is throwing a big party to formerly endorsed jessie as their preferred parliamentary candidate . ha. the political rookie invoked his popularity to energize the crowd. am i possessed to be leaving fame and money for politics? he asks the crowd that one, 0, they respond. you're not,

you're not see assurance. he needs that. they'll vote for him a boy. and so i'd like to continue that conversation and pick up where we left off in that story and just hear from the panel that we have here. do you believe in leadership of young people? joseph, let me ask you 1st. would you vote for a member of parliament who's 23 years old? why not? from the experience, half hug. all those young guys, if i can talk about my local m c r. soon as he gets elected, instead of coming back to the people, she goes on start buying big cas drinking high life and that'll a girl this morning you can get into his homestead. they dont associate with the people in the mall. okay, melody can i get your views on the same? are you of the opinion that young people can or cannot lead the kindly of

a truly believe that some people are born leaders doesn't matter if you are much older, much younger, but i do believe that they need to work together. where does a young person a young aspirant get a track record from? i suppose it's the same question that people who are trying to get into the job market as well as the experience come from. if you don't hire me, i can use myself as an example. i'm currently 26 years old. i have a track record. the offer are holding piece campaigns in may community. i also have a trip or track record of being a mentor for the young girls. so it doesn't have to be a language or something huge that can be seen by the people, but at least something that you have done to the community. okay. yeah, just if i want to come to you because we saw in the last election cycle, boniface wonky vying to become a member of parliament, an activist, well known here in the country. and he said, unfortunately, people didn't vote for him because they always wanted money. so we want somebody who was rich, what do we want?

somebody who has a track record or get is for me, it really doesn't matter very to or want to my does he is when you're getting back to like please are you ready? like to make the change to the community, are you ready to give back to the community? how do we make sure that as citizens we are keeping our leaders accountable? joseph, are from the process in the middle where we are, we go back and stop asking them what have you done? what that is that under go on before i got up to we are left. that is, how do you hold some one accountable when you can't access their houses, access, assist them anywhere you want to call them? we want to get to the office. you can see them with a waitlist to see where it's so frustrating. yes, it's so frustrating. she'll let everyone who we are allowed, protest allows to protest, but you know, as soon as the step on the streets, what happens says like if i knew in protest and it's my rights, how would you on me, how am i supposed to reach out if you're not going to let me come to your house,

you're not going to give me a forum. and i can even protest because i'm going to be gusto shots. so why are we having the selection? who is it before? we really want to see these new blood new to what the, the new blood bringing on the table. what are the people going to gain from this new blood melody? it my point of view. it's the last straw like we are at the end. it's just if something doesn't change, it's just gonna kill just fine. i mean, i'm doing it hoping and we have seen it these hoping that they would do something. but up up up, we go back to our dispatcher and i believe for the next 5 years department to them . they come promising the product to the state level. hey, so i guess that's where we're going to wrap this discussion melody and joseph, joseph chagrin, just selma. thank you for your time. yes, we are going to vote, but as a form of punishment, something you have never had. ah,

women in kenya have a hard time in politics. as we saw earlier, the show intimidation is white spreads. well, can you actually introduced a quarter for women in parliament in 2010, but it's never been fulfilled? did up the correspondence, felix marine got caught up with a woman candidate who is determined to change that in kenya's campbell county. fighting for the rights of women. so then retiring is hoping to become king as young as through manager. preventative, therefore, to 70 female members of parliament, elected by all voters in kenya's counties intended to address under representation of women in politics. you, terry says, experiences of growing up in a rural community as had driving force experience is over carrying water experiences over growing up weak single mother single moms. we doublets yields, that is what really motivated me to go for this position. on the campaign trail. schmidt's women hotel, how,

what needs to change if she gets into office. yeah. at least create jobs for us. and even if they're menial, you can get a pay slip, even if it's only $50.00 a month. it can help a lot of work. when susan goes to parliament, i want her to lobby the government for us to have a department where we can work with as women. so we can help ourselves can and politics is dominated by men, attempts to guarantee representation for women have failed, or backfired. suzanne guitar received. this has to change. we had a this letter, not there yet. so i would encourage more and more young women to go for this position, elective position to be specific. before the weekend. women candidates still fall far behind men in securing campaign funding in kenya. but says marci, suzanne sister, incomplete manager, they're becoming that challenge to being an independent candidate or so finances by to have hired a really good support from the people who understand her and who have hired

a brief history about her in the was active ability. these widespread prejudice about age and gender. but susan's father is determined for his daughter to succeed at that you know, she might be young, but i'll let her do what she needs to do because i can't restrict her. since she's competent, i'll let her keep going. suzanne dietary is not new to politics. she's been a grassroots activist since her student des, promoting dialogue awareness of women's health issues and an end to gender based violence. when a good to player, i'll blake to push for good productive health to ensure that women have access to essentially tellers to improve their dignity one seats. one woman in the desire to change things for the better for women in amber county. so then deter it is on a journey to the present. women in the ken and parliament. thank you for choosing dw news africa collection special. that's it. now from all of us in a row, be,

be sure to check out or other stories on d, w dot com, forward slash africa, or on facebook, and twitter will leave you now with these images of democracy in action right here in kenya. ah . c a. c c c c ah, with

who lebanon's crisis. even after the explosion that rock they were 2 years ago, nothing is changed. the corrupt ruling class is still driving the country towards

bankruptcy. ah ram, but inflation is making survival. a daily struggle for the people. with 15 minutes, d, w. o ah, a ended glistening place along the mediterranean sea. it's waters connect people of many cultures. siena must rock and to far abdul karim drift along with exploring modern lifestyles and mediterranean. where has history left its traces, meeting people hearing their dreams, a mediterranean journey intent,

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forever. magellan journey around the world. starting september 7th on d. w. ah, this is the w needs live from berlin, israeli as dr. some garza kill at least 15 people rescue team search through the rubble where israel says it targeted an imminent threat from the palestinian islamic jihad group. a senior militant and a 5 year old girl are.