Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has come out to defend his controversial proposal to extend the presidential term limit from five to seven years, even as his own party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), continues to firmly reject the move.

Speaking on a local radio station on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Senator Cherargei said the push to extend term limits is grounded in both religious and practical reasoning.

“Seven years is a holy number for us Christians,” Cherargei explained.

Practically, the senator expressed concern over what he described as a culture of perpetual electioneering in the country. According to him, the current five-year term does not provide sufficient time for elected leaders to fully implement their development agendas.

He pointed out that constant comparisons between current and former leaders, such as President William Ruto and the late President Mwai Kibaki, fail to consider the time it takes to deliver impactful projects

Cherargei highlighted the case of Kibaki, who served two full terms and is often credited with infrastructure developments, such as the Thika Super Highway. In contrast, Ruto, who has been in office for only three years, is already being judged against Kibaki’s decade-long legacy.

“We have subjected this country to continuous campaigning. We barely give elected leaders enough time to work. People are already comparing President Ruto to former President Kibaki, who served for ten years. Ruto has only been in office for three years, but you’ll hear people saying, ‘Kibaki alijenga Thika Super Highway’,” he added.

The bill, which was published in September 2024, seeks to amend several articles of the Constitution to increase the term of service for the President, Members of Parliament (MPS), Senators, Members of County Assembly (MCAs), and Governors from five years to seven years.

Specifically, the bill proposes to change Article 136 of the Constitution, which currently limits the President to two five-year terms. It also seeks amendments to Articles 101, 177, and 180 to extend the tenure of other elected leaders.

UDA rejects

However, the proposal was met with stiff opposition from the ruling UDA party, despite Cherargei being one of its elected leaders.

In October 2024, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar condemned the bill as a threat to Kenya’s democratic gains. He described the proposal as cynical, profoundly misguided and self-serving.

The party warned that such a bill would undermine Kenya’s democratic foundations and the people’s ability to hold leaders accountable through regular elections.

“Of grave concern is that this cynical, profoundly misguided and self-serving bill contravenes a long-held aspiration of the people of Kenya to retire the undemocratic entrenchment of unaccountable political monopolies,” the UDA statement read.

Adding;

“It seeks to deny the people regular opportunities to hold leadership to account and directly exercise sovereign power.”

The party further accused the bill’s sponsors of failing to appreciate the historical significance of term limits, calling their actions juvenile political experimentation and political delinquency.

“UDA remembers the lessons of our nation’s history and honours the long struggle of the people of Kenya for constitutional change,” the party’s statement emphasised.

“We have made impressive strides in consolidating our institutions, deepening our democracy, protecting our freedoms, and placing our economy on the sustainable path of inclusive prosperity.”

President William Ruto publicly echoed the party’s stance by resharing the statement on his official X, signalling his disapproval of the proposed changes.

The party called on all members involved with the bill to immediately withdraw their support, declaring that such attempts to tamper with the Constitution must come to an end.