Correspondent

A group of students to represent Kenya in a world schools debating championship in Johannesburg leave Nairobi tomorrow.

Led by teacher Wambui Gathaiya, the five are Phoebe Macharia of Kenya High School, Juliet Wamaitha of Limuru Girls' School and Kenneth Rukunga, Lawrence Karanja, and Solomon Njeru of Mang'u High School.

The Kenyan team will battle it out with students from 34 countries in the10-day event organised by Debating Council.

Among the countries they will meet are Britain, the Unites States, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Australia and South Africa.

The event will be opened and closed by former South African President Nelson Mandela, who will also host a luncheon in honour of the students.

"This is the most prestigious international parliamentary debate in the world," said Mrs Gathaiya. "It encourages not only interaction but also international understanding."

The students said the event had enabled them to diversify their knowledge as they prepared for it.

"It has also forced us to improve our English language skills against Sheng many of us are used to and which waters down our English," said Ms Macharia.

To qualify to represent the country, the judges looked for bright, articulate, pleasant and confident students.

Mrs Gathaiya called on sponsors to assist her as she prepares for next year's event.

The students will be welcomed by South African President Thabo Mbeki. They will hold their debates in the presence of the ambassadors and high commissioners of participating countries.

The event was launched in 1998 and has since been hosted by US (1999) and Britain (2000).