UDA Downplays Cherargei Proposal To Extend Ruto Term Limit
The senator became the third high-ranking UDA politician proposing to extend the Presidential term limit as set in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
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The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has distanced itself from Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei's fresh proposal to have the presidential term limit in Kenya increased from the current five years.
In a statement, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Monday, September 25 affirmed that the views of the Senator did not reflect the official position of the Head of State on the matter.
The senator became the third high-ranking UDA politician proposing to extend the Presidential term limit as set in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
Cleophas Malala speaking during a fundraising ceremony towards the construction of the Salvation Army Church in Mt. Elgon Constituency on September 24, 2023. /CLEOPHAS MALALA
"Our attention is drawn to various news headlines and media references to a Memorandum submitted to the Bipartisan Talks team by Sen. Samson Cherargei, particularly on his proposal to increase the Presidential term limit to seven years.
"The UDA Party respects and upholds the Senator's personal views but particularly on the referenced subject, those views do not reflect the perspectives of the UDA Party and/or its Party Leader, H.E. the President, William Ruto. The President solemnly swore to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution which is abundantly clear and categorical on the Presidential term limit," stated Malala in part.
UDA added that it is presently focused on delivering on its promises to the People of Kenya, mindful that it shall in due course submit its scorecard for the people to evaluate.
"In doing so, we are guided by the timeline to the next general election. This is why, for the past few months, the UDA party has published a timeline portal for all its electoral activities on https://timeline.uda.ke/
"Respectfully, therefore, the term limit debate is superfluous and peripheral," added the UDA SG.
The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) on Friday, September 22 concluded receiving public memoranda with Cherargei presenting a memorandum to the 10-member dialogue committee proposing to have the Constitution of Kenya amended to have a president in office for seven years.
President Ruto's ally 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.
Cherargei's proposal follows that of Fafi Member of Parliament (MP) Salah Yakub who in 2022 proposed the removal of the 10-year limit and instead replace it with an age limit for contesting for the presidency capped at 75 years.
Nominated senator Karen Nyamu has also openly supported the removal of term limits, though President Ruto has rejected the push in public.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua in August pushed for the elimination of term limits for both the presidential and gubernatorial positions, contending that such a move would empower leaders at these two tiers of government to effectively fulfil their commitments to Kenyans.
What The Constitution Says About Presidential Term Limits
Article 142 of the Kenyan 2010 Constitution indicates that: (1) The President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in, and ending when the person next elected President in accordance with Article 136 (2) (a) is sworn in. The President, however, is prohibited from holding office for more than two five-year terms.
Though one cannot rule out the possibility of amending the term limits of a Head of State, those fronting the proposal should know that it is a difficult process to have their wishes granted.
The Constitution carries complex mechanisms for amending certain fundamental provisions, and the presidential term limit happens to be one of them.
Read more: Why Scrapping Presidential Term Limits In Kenya Is Very Difficult
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