UDA MP Explains Why He Wanted Ruto To Rule For 20 Years
Ruto's allies and the UDA party had distanced themselves from the ambitious plan, noting that it was the sole idea of the legislator
Marvin Chege 
Fafi Member of Parliament, Salah Yakub, explained on Tuesday, November 8 why he proposed the removal of the two-term presidential limit, which would allow President William Ruto, for instance, to rule for up to 20 years.
Speaking during an interview with NTV, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker opined that Heads of States with great track records in terms of development should not be allowed to rule for only two terms due to the economic impact they can have on Kenya.
Yakub gave an example of Kenya's third president, the late Mwai Kibaki, who ran the course of his two terms even though he achieved more economically in his 10-year reign than any other president in the country.
President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2022. /TWITTER
He claimed that some of his UDA colleagues were for the idea that Kibaki should have been given another term.
"If you have a cook in your home and he or she works well, you can't just wake up one morning and decide to change them.
"We looked at Kibaki who did a very good job for the 10 years but the Constitution capped him. Some of us were for the idea that should he have served for another term, we could have gone on another level," he stated.
He nonetheless reiterated that the idea was just at its infancy stage and that discussions would grow when the right time came.
Yakub also gave an example of countries in Europe that he claimed won the support of Kenyans over the same idea, which has seen them grow economically.
"It is happening in Europe, like Denmark and Germany. It's not an issue of changing the personnel but the delivery of goods," he clarified.
On if UDA would take disciplinary action on him, Yakub noted that he had not been reprimanded, nor was there any decision to de-whip him.
Ruto's allies and the UDA party had distanced themselves from the ambitious plan, noting that it was the sole idea of the legislator, which generated heated discussions across the country.
"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 stated.
Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi. /FILE
