Ruto Opposes Plan To Increase Term To 20 Years

President William Ruto's allies have rubbished plans by a section of United Democratic Party Alliance (UDA) Members of Parliament (MPs) to double the maximum presidential term limit from the current 10 years.

Digital Strategist, Dennis Itumbi, red-flagged the proposed plan by Fafi MP Salah Yakub to scrap the current term limit as reported by a local newspaper on Tuesday, November 8, terming it against the wishes of the Head of State.

“This move does not enjoy the signature or the nod of President William Ruto - I oppose!” he stated.

Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi. /FILE

His comments were soon followed by other allies ranging from Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale and UDA chairman Johnson Muthama siding with him, particularly Muthama's comments which reprimanded members of his own party.

“The statement by Fafi MP, Hon. Salah Yakub on scrapping the presidential term limit and capping it on the age limit has made many Kenyans get concerned and many have called me asking about the position of UDA.

"Please take note of this, as the National Party, Chairman I wish to categorically state that Hon. Yakub made a personal statement that has nothing to do with UDA. As a Party, we stand for open Democracy and we remain supportive of the two-term presidential limit and no ongoing discussions to scrap it.” stated Muthama.

“Hon Salah Yakub, the new MP for Fafi Constituency. I don't know him yet. Granted, he enjoys the freedom of speech. 

"However, he must be reminded that UDA believes in the doctrine of Basic Structure & Essential Clauses in our Constitution. He is wrong & grossly out of order,” noted Khalwale.

"Remarks by Fafi MP Salah Yakub that there are plans to extend term limits for the President are a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator. UDA distances itself from the utterances by the MP."

"The Party has not been part of discussions in regard to term limits. The Party is busy implementing The Plan and will not be part of sideshows," the UDA party subsequently stated.

The allies made the remarks after Yakub revealed that the lawmakers, which he did not mention, had plans to replace the current term limit with an age limit of 75 years through a constitutional amendment Bill.

In the event the MPs had got their way, the new laws would have seen President William Ruto rule the country for up to 20 years, as he is currently 55 years old. He, for example, would be eligible to contest in 2027, 2032 and 2037 elections if the term limits are replaced with the age limit.

The move received sharp criticism from activists and opposition leaders who promised to oppose the plan to stretch Ruto's term limit beyond what has been set in stone in the promulgated 2010 Constitution.

President Ruto during his campaigns vowed to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, criticising his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, for disobeying several court orders. As a consequence, he promised to form a team to look into the court orders that were disregarded.

The extension of the presidential term has also been criticised by several Kenyans. The two-term limit was introduced ahead of the 1992 elections following the repeal of section 2A of the old constitution and was kept in the 2010 Constitution.