Mathenge: UDA lawmakers behind term extension bid

The push to extend the terms of elected leaders is being engineered by some leaders of the ruling party who want to derail President William Ruto’s administration, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge (pictured) has claimed.

Some 10 MPs and senators have crafted several bills to be presented in Parliament in an attempt to discredit the Kenya Kwanza government, said Mathenge, a key ally of Ruto, without naming the lawmakers.

The first-time MP on Tuesday said the lawmakers are from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, which is led by President Ruto, and that they oppose government programmes.

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The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2024, championed by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, seeks to extend the terms of office for the President, governors MPs and ward reps.

The bill “is a calculated and well-designed move by a certain clique of people within the UDA party who have lately claimed they do not agree with certain government programmes [in an attempt] to make the government unpopular,” Mathenge said on the phone.

The amendment bill, is undergoing public participation until Friday. Mathenge promised to oppose it.

“I vehemently and strongly oppose the bill to increase the term of any elective position. I will reject the introduction of the Cherargei bill on the floor of the House at the first reading, should it ever find its way there,” Mathenge said.

Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) national chairman Esau Kioni has described the proposal as a selfish move.

He said the party strongly opposes the bill, arguing that leaders should focus on addressing critical issues facing Kenyans.

“DP is the second oldest party in Kenya. As a party, we are concerned when we see some of our leaders tending to be selfish,” Kioni said on Tuesday.

“What shall the leaders gain by increasing their term in office? DP is not supporting and will not support that bill because it is anti-people.”