In a move that has ignited a firestorm of debate across Kenya, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has introduced a controversial bill seeking to extend the presidential term limit from five to seven years. The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, No. 46 of 2024, also proposes to prolong the terms of MPs, MCAs, and governors, while significantly reshaping the country’s political structure.
Under Kenyan law, a president is limited to serving two five-year terms, but Cherargei, a close ally of President William Ruto, argues that this period is too short for any leader to make a meaningful impact. “Seven years will enable the president to have a good opportunity to deliver his manifesto,” Cherargei claimed. “Frequent elections disrupt governance and slow down long-term projects that could benefit the nation.”
But critics, including political experts, are not buying it. Many see this as a thinly veiled attempt to extend President Ruto’s grip on power. Cherargei’s proposals would not only give the president more time in office but also introduce the position of a prime minister, to be handpicked by the president from the largest party or coalition in parliament.
An alarming power grab?
The bill, read for the first time on Thursday, September 26, also includes provisions that would remove the office of the deputy governor, increase the term of state emergency, and raise county resource allocation from 15% to 40%.
These drastic changes have fueled accusations that Cherargei’s bill is a calculated move to entrench the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s power.
Cherargei, however, remains defiant, claiming the changes are aimed at improving governance. “Because of persistent electoral disputes, including presidential election results that are contested in court, it takes at least two years for the elected president to settle down,” he said, suggesting that the remaining three years are insufficient for service delivery.
Yet, this isn’t the first time the senator has tried to push through such changes. In September 2023, Cherargei proposed similar amendments during the National Dialogue Committee, formed after the disputed 2022 election. That proposal was rejected, with UDA distancing itself from Cherargei’s agenda. Despite this, the senator has returned, undeterred, and with a bill even more far-reaching.
Political diversion or a genuine Governance shift?
The timing of this bill is also raising eyebrows. With Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua facing an impeachment motion some political analysts view the push for constitutional amendments as a convenient distraction.
President William Ruto has been notably silent on the matter, busying himself with initiatives like the Climate Worx Mtaani program while steering clear of addressing Gachagua’s troubles or the growing public discontent with his administration.
Ruto’s first two years in office have been anything but smooth. His administration has been marred by protests led by the Azimio la Umoja coalition, which only subsided after several opposition leaders were absorbed into the government.
Recently, Gen Z protests have erupted, driven by public outrage over controversial policies like the finance bill, university funding models, and the housing levy, adding to the mounting pressure on the government. Now, with a potential extension of the presidential term looming, Kenyans are left debating: do they want to hand over two more years to a president who has already faced so much criticism?
The intention to scrap the presidential term limit was first brought to the forein November 2022, by little-known Fafi MP Salah Yakub, prompting a spirited denial from President Ruto, who claimed to have no interest in such a matter
As the clock is ticking towards the October 25 deadline for public submissions approaches, the question looms large: will Kenyans embrace this proposed shift, or will they push back against what many perceive as an attempt to consolidate power?
