ODM Governor Who Dumped Raila Supports Call To Extend Ruto's Term Limit
Lomorukai, who assumed power in August 2022, was speaking during the Turkana Cultural and Tourism Festival opening ceremony in Lodwar town termed Tobonglore
Marvin Chege 
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has openly declared his support for calls to have the presidential term limit in Kenya increased from the current five years to seven years.
Lomorukai, who assumed power in August 2022, was speaking during the Turkana Cultural and Tourism Festival opening ceremony in Lodwar town termed Tobonglore when he argued that the extension of the term limits would suit President William Ruto.
The opposition politician who was elected under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) praised Ruto's impressive service delivery one year and a month since assuming office and thus appealed to the country to give him more time to secure his legacy.
President William Ruto greets guests while arriving at the Turkana Cultural and Tourism Festival in Lodwar Town on October 12, 2023. /X
Lomorukai even went to the extent of expressing his eagerness to succeed President Ruto after his retirement.
“After your 14 years, I will be president. As Turkana County Governor from the onset, I vowed to work with you,” Lomorukai stated.
The first-time governor at the same time dumped ODM to work with and campaign for President Ruto in favour of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which is the main party of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
According to the governor, he switched camps despite facing threats from powers he did not reveal.
The stiff opposition, he emphasized, fueled his desire and decision to campaign for the President in the next General Election, pledging to deliver at least 80 per cent of the votes from his region.
“I am voted by Turkana County people. Those who are making threats that the Turkana Governor is working with the President, who told them that is a crime?” he remarked.
“I will work with you now and in the future. I will bring you Turkana votes. There's no bargain about that."
The decamping of Lomorukai is a big blow to ODM and its party leader Raila Odinga as he was among the few politicians elected under its ticket in the Rift Valley region.
The party also lost a great opportunity to cement itself as a stronghold in Turkana County. In the 2022 elections, Raila garnered 95,620 votes against Ruto who got 46,510 despite the former governor Josphat Nanok, later appointed State House Deputy Chief of Staff, campaigning for the latter.
Lomorukai meanwhile joined increasing calls by a section of UDA politicians to have the presidential term limit increased, arguing that President Ruto may not have enough time to fully deliver on his campaign promises.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who ignited the fresh calls, argued that five years might be insufficient for a president 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.
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.
The purpose of term limits is to minimise corruption and abuse of office, open the government to new people and ideas, and infuse the government with more innovative and creative ways to solve national problems.
