At Least 25 Years: Billionaire Revives Call To Extend Ruto's Term Limit
The billionaire expressed Ruto's patriotism and dedication to attend to matters concerning development and wished him a long life.
Marvin Chege 
Billionaire steel industrialist and philanthropist Dr Narendra Raval, the executive chairman of Devki Group on Monday, April 8 expressed his wish for President William Ruto to lead the country for at least 25 years.
Addressing a gathering that included the Head of State during the launch of the Cemtech Limited Clinker Plant in West Pokot County, Raval hailed the remarkable work that Ruto has done in nearly one and a half years since taking office.
The billionaire expressed Ruto's patriotism and dedication to attend to matters concerning development and wished him a long life.
Billionaire steel industrialist and philanthropist Dr Narendra Raval during an interview with Jeff Koinange. /FILE
“Our President is here and I am happy, I was worried if he could come with this weather but he managed to come through the road. He loves this country so much.
"I have no words to say thank you to him may God give him 100 years of life. I wish we had him as president for at least 25 years. He will develop this country,” said Narendra.
The billionaire’s remarks were echoed by Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing who remarked that as a lawmaker, he could suggest changes to the Constitution on term limits.
“I think those twenty-five years we should change the Constitution,” Pkosing stated.
It is worth noting that in 2022, President Ruto said he was not interested in the move to amend the constitution to scrap the term limit saying it was selfish.
Ruto who was speaking during a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting told MPs to focus on the needs of the people instead of pushing for radical changes to the Executive.
"Do not spend your time pushing for selfish and self-serving legislation like the changing of the constitution to remove term limits. My focus is service to the people," stated Ruto.
Nonetheless, there have been numerous proposals to have the presidential term limits doubled from the current five years, led by politicians allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, who argued that President Ruto may not have enough time to fully deliver on his campaign promises.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who ignited the fresh calls, claimed that five years might be insufficient for a president like Ruto given the workload that is bestowed upon him or her in terms of service delivery to Kenyans as promised in the election manifesto and running of the government.
His UDA party members were however against the idea, with Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Monday, September 25 affirming that the views of the Senator did not reflect the official position of the Head of State on the matter.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai also backed the calls to have Ruto's term limit increased, having dumped the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to work with and campaign for President Ruto in favour of UDA which is the main party of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Extending a presidential term limit from the current five years is viewed by many as an impossible task with the Constitution of Kenya carrying complex mechanisms for amending certain fundamental provisions, and the presidential term limit happens to be one of them.
One of the requirements is that the proposal would have to be approved by Kenyans in a referendum. Voters are unlikely to accept any efforts to interfere with what is a robust and effectively functioning constitutional system.
