Ruto Tells Off MP Planning To Increase Term To 20 Years
He believed that the move was selfish and reiterated that he is focused on serving all Kenyans...
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President William Ruto on Wednesday, November 16 dismissed 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.
Speaking during a UDA Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi, the President urged the lawmakers to focus on coming up with laws that benefit the people of Kenya instead of pushing for radical changes to the Executive.
He believed that the move was selfish and reiterated that he is focused on serving all Kenyans, even those who didn't vote for him in the August 9 elections.
President William Ruto with the late Kenya's second president, Daniel arap Moi during a past function. /FILE
"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," he said.
Ruto called upon the legislators to work on laws that are aimed at realising the promises in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto made during the campaign period, starting with the highly-anticipated Hustler Fund.
Digital Strategist, Dennis Itumbi, had 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.
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.
UDA later distanced itself from Yakub's comments, reiterating that it is focused on implementing The Plan and will not be part of sideshows.
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.
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.
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