Inside UDA plan to extend Ruto’s Presidential term Limit

A proposal by Nandi senator samson cherargei to amend presidential term limit has drawn sharp reactions with critics saying it could be a ploy to introduce presidents for life in the near future.

The National Dialogue Committee concluded receiving public memoranda including the senator’s proposal

The committee chaired by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka will begin interrogating the submissions before making their recommendations. 

If Cherargei’s proposal is actualised it then means that if one is elected president he or she would be in office for 7 years with the possibility of extension by another 7-year term.

Chapter nine of the Constitution under Article 142 says: “The President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in and ending when the person next elected President in accordance with Article 136 (2) (a) is sworn in.”

The constitution only stipulates a five-year term with the possibility of another five-year term, thus, altering the structure of the constitution will require a referendum.

Cherargei further wants the talks team to establish the Office of the Prime Minister who will sit in parliament and be the official spokesman of government in the house.

Other teams that appeared before the dialogue team include the IEBC that on its part proposed to have the presidential elections conducted separately from other elective positions.

“We are proposing that since the presidential election is the only contested we have it conducted on its separate day,” IEBC CEO Marjan Marjan said.

Ichung’wa asked in response asked: “Did your commission file any complaint on the events of 15th August at the Bomas of Kenya?

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) on its part wants the president to order a general wage increase. 

This would compel all employers to increase salaries for their employees to help them absorb the shocks of the current economic stress.

On the two-thirds gender rule, women from KEWOPA want the law changed to have the gubernatorial candidates select a member of the opposite gender as a running mate.

“If a governor is male the deputy should be female,” Nandi Woman Rep Cynthia Muge stated.

On 23rd of September 2023, the lawmaker presented a memorandum to the National Dialogue Comittee at the Bomas of kenya seeking to ammend the constitution to extend the presidential term limit in kenya from five to seven years before the next election.

However this has been opposed by opposition leaders and other opinion-makers who say it it ill-advised.

Wile the idea was mooted by Mr Cherargei, they also read president Ruto’s hand in it to test the waters and see how the public reacts.

High ranking UDA leaders however say the UDA party has nothing to do with the senators proposals neither has it been sent to execute it.

The leader of minority in the national assembly Opiyo Wandayi saidd he was not surprised by the move by the close president Ruto ally but vowed to resist such plans.

His views were echoed by his Alego Usonga counterpart , Mr Samuel Atandi who told the nation that they saw this coming during the campaigns.

The propasals come at a time when the kenya kwanza government is strugling with infighting among its leaders,public backlash over the rising cost of living and unfulfilled promises.

Homabay senator Moses Kajwang sees the proposals as a plot by the Kenya Kwanza government to distract kenyans.

Speaking at mungore primary school in Bungoma County, the leaders from western also accused the senator of habouring intentions to take the country back to a period they described as regressive and unfavourable.

The opposition vowed to resist and dismantle any initiatives they percieved as favouring a select few at the expense of wider population.

According to pundits, the current debate on changing the presidential term limit is not a priority now.

Discentng voices within the western region have raised intriguing questions about the potential impact of such an extension, particularly on the political aspirations of the luhya leaders who are keen to inherit the big seat from Dr Ruto.

Matungu MP Oscar Nabulindo rebuked the senator insisting that kenya had a rich pool of capable leaders and there was no need to extend the presidential term.

East African Legislative Assembly member Kanini Kega said that the current term limit is enough for any president to implement his manifesto.He explained that in the US presidents serve for four years and have a proper plan .

The arguement according to cherargei, a mere 5 year term does not allow for enough time for effective governance and the formation of a capable team to implement the mamnifesto.

If implemented, his proposal would mean that a new elected president would serve an initial term of seven years, with the possibility of an additional seven year extension. that would see an individual rule the county for 14 years

Former IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe has also reacted following the unpopular opinion by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei 

Akombe in a post on X on Saturday said changing the Presidential term limit will allow President William Ruto to start a fresh term in office. 

She said this has happened in other countries where the Presidential term limits were amended.

“In too many countries where the political elite amends the length of the Presidency or introduce term limits, the clock starts afresh,” she said. 

She was reminiscent that when former President Daniel Arap Moi introduced the term limits in 1992, he ran again for the top seat yet he had ruled Kenya from 1978. 

“Moi did the same in 1992. Let’s get ready,” Akombe added. 

Moi in December 1991 during a KANU delegates meeting at Kasarani Stadium, repealed Section 2A of the constitution, thereby making Kenya a multi-party state.

The change enabled the introduction of term limits to the Presidency.

Moi went on to rule for two terms under the repealed constitution from 1992 to 2002 when he finally handed over power. 

Maisha Television Editorial Desk

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