Plan to remove presidential term limit revealed
A lawmaker under UDA, has revealed plans to seek the scrapping of the presidential term limit, noting that the cap should be on age, not period of service.
Fafi MP Salah Yakub said some UDA lawmakers are working on a constitutional amendment Bill to replace the two-term limit with an age limit of 75 years.
Should the MPs have their way, they would give Dr William Ruto, the sitting President, the leeway to seek re-election for four terms, or 20 years. Dr Ruto is aged 55 and has not indicated any intention to contest beyond the current term limit.
The two-term limit came into effect ahead of the 1992 elections following the repeal of section 2A of the old constitution. The 2010 Constitution maintained the presidential term limit.
According to Article 142 of the Constitution, the President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President is sworn in, and ending when the person next elected President is sworn in. The article goes ahead to state that a person shall not hold office as president for more than two terms.
The timing of such a proposal, coming only three months after a hotly contested presidential election, could raise political temperatures. At his current age, for instance, President Ruto would be eligible to contest in the 2027, 2032 and 2037 elections if the term limits are replaced with the age limit.
National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed laughed off the plans, saying the presidential term limit is cast in stone.
“This madness of Kenya Kwanza will come to an end very soon. They are talking about many things but once their minds settle, they will realise that they have work to do and stop all this monkey business they have been taking the country through in the last two months,” he said.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo also dismissed the proposal, stating it as “totally ridiculous” and next to impossible. “Where will such an amendment pass through? He is just looking for cheap publicity. It will be a waste of time,” said Mr Maanzo.
