Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party communications director Philip Etale has expressed his disapproval for a proposal seeking to have presidential term limit moved to seven years, from the current five.
Taking to his official X account on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Etale faulted Nandi senator Samson Cherargei for sponsoring a Bill seeking to make changes to the presidential term limits.
Etale on Cherargei’s Bill
According to Etale, the country must also have a nominated president should Cherargei’s Bill go through.
He argues that the lawmaker is trying to push Kenyans to the wall, urging the leaders and Kenyans to be contented with what they have at the moment.
“If we MUST have the Presidential term limit at 7 years, then I propose we also MUST have a NOMINATED PRESIDENT. I think senator Samson Cherargei is pushing Kenyans to the wall. Let’s be content with what we have today,” Etale stated.
If we MUST have the Presidential term limit at 7 years, then I propose we also MUST have a NOMINATED PRESIDENT.
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) September 25, 2024
I think @scherargei is pushing Kenyans to the wall. Let’s be content with what we have today.
Cherargei’s Bill on term limits
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by senator Cherargei, is now set for introduction in the Senate for first reading.
The Bill proposes the increase in the term of service for the President, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and governors to seven years.
The Bill also creates the office of the Prime Minister similar to the proposals in the National Dialogue Committee and the Building Bridges Initiative reports.
It states that the President shall appoint the Prime Minister from among the members of Parliament.
It further seeks to enhance the powers of the Senate by giving it the exclusive mandate to vet some state officers.
The Bill seeks to specifically amend Articles 152, 156 157, 166, 215, 228, 229, 245 and 250 of the Constitution to assign the responsibility of approval for appointment of various state officers between the Senate and the National Assembly.
Presidential term limit debate
The debate to have the presidential term limit increased to seven was first ignited in November 2022 by a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker.
The lawmaker fronted a constitutional amendment to remove the presidential term limit.
Fafi MP Salah Yakub proposed the removal of the term limit and instead replaced it with an age limit of 75 years. However, the proposal flopped.
Currently, the Constitution limits the term of the President to a maximum of two terms of five years.
