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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticized Fafi Member of Parliament (MP) Salah Yakub over his remarks on the presidential term limit and subsequently termed his comments as a ‘red herring’.

Speaking on Thursday, November 10, 2022, Sifuna insinuated that the MP was focusing on the wrong issues instead of attending to urgent matters affecting his constituency. He also alleged that the legislator’s remarks were meant to shift the country’s attention from critical issues.

“I was a bit surprised that this matter was coming from an MP in Fafi because I know Fafi is one of those areas currently experiencing drought, I don’t know if the MP can tell us that everyone in Fafi has been fed and is okay and that the only responsibility remaining is to bring in constitutional reforms, “Sifuna stated.

“I believe it’s a red herring to try and distract us from serious issues such as drought, hunger, the current economic crisis Kenyans are facing and the spate of armed robberies in the city,” he added.

Further, the senator reiterated that Kenyans should remain vigilant and not be distracted by political theatrics.

Interestingly, Sifuna’s remarks were echoed by South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro who noted that Fafi’s remarks were ‘fantasy thinking’. He added that the MP should seek alternative ways of finding fame.

“That’s fantasy thinking. The MP should find ways to look for fame. When I met the president yesterday I realized he does not even know his name (the Fafi MP). The president was asking who this guy is; he only remembers the face but not the name, ” Osoro stated.

Yakub’s remarks on presidency

Earlier this week, social media was left awash after Yakub, a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP revealed plans to scrap the presidential term limit and replace it with an age limit of 75 years.

Yakub who made the remarks during a relief food distribution drive in Garissa County over the weekend had suggested that the cap should be on age and not the number of years one has served.

“We want to tell Kenyans that the limit on two terms should be relooked. We want it to be changed to an age limit where when one gets to 75 years then he or she cannot contest,” the MP was quoted as saying.

“We will come up with an amendment Bill to try to change this because we want the requirement to be on age limit and not terms. If a president is doing a good job, he or she should not be limited by the terms,” he added.

Without revealing names, the lawmaker claimed the MPs behind the plot to amend the constitution, have been holding closed-door meetings to deliberate on the proposal. It’s, however, unclear if the MPs’ proposal has the blessings of the party.

UDA dismisses Yakub’s remarks

The UDA party distanced itself from the remarks by the MP and termed them as a ‘product of a fertile imagination by the legislator’.

The President William Ruto-led outfit insisted that the party had not been part of discussions in regard to term limits and would not be part of ‘sideshows’.

“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,” UDA said.

“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.”