Extend Presidential Term To 7 Years, Other Amendments In Senator Cherargei's Bill

Posted on 25 Oct 2024
Extend Presidential Term To 7 Years, Other Amendments In Senator Cherargei's Bill
  • Senator Samson Cherargei's proposed legislation proposes to increase the presidential term limit from five to seven years
  • The senator also seeks to extend the term of MPs, MCAs, and governors to seven years from the current five years
  • Senator Cherargei has proposed an increase in county revenue from 15% of the national revenue to 40%

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Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei has ignited a political debate with his draft Constitution Amendment draft bill, which, among other things, seeks to extend the presidential term limit.

Senator Cherargei's plan to extend Kenya's presidential term limit

His bill, which has yet to be published, seeks to amend Articles 136, 101, 177, and 180 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which guide the election and term limits of the president, Members of Parliament, Members of the County Assembly, and governors.

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The bill has reignited 2022 claims by first-time Fafi MP Salah Yakub that President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party was considering extending the presidential term limit from five to seven years.

UDA leadership came out guns blazing and rubbishing Yakub's proposals as fertile imagination.

UDA opposes presidential term limit extension allegations

Shortly after the leading party neutralised Yakub's claims, Senator Cherargei, a close ally of Ruto, renewed the discussion, arguing that a five-year term was insufficient for a president or governor to implement their manifesto fully.

Cherargei proceeded with his move by drafting the bill before the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, which Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei leads.

The legislator proposes that the president and governors serve a single seven-year term by seeking amendments to Articles 136, 101, 177, and 180.

Speaker Amason Kimgi referred the draft bill to the committee.

If the Committee and Kingi approve the bill, it will be published and proceed to the first reading in the Senate.

The bill also seeks to create the Office of the Prime Minister. It proposes that the Senate be mandated to vet Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, the Auditor General, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, and High Court Judges.

How much are counties getting from Kenya's national revenue?

If all proposals are approved and the bill passes all the necessary processes to become law, the National Assembly will be tasked with vetting nominated ambassadors.

The bill proposes that counties get 40% of the national revenue, an increase from the current 15%.

Cherargei also proposes that the governor's and deputy governor's impeachments should only be challenged at the Supreme Court.

In his bill, he states that the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces must be approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate.

According to the Constitution of Kenya, to amend the supreme law of the land, at least two-thirds of the votes of both the National Assembly and the Senate are required.

After this, the support of a simple majority of Kenyan citizens voting in a referendum is needed.

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Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei

Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei

Extend Presidential Term to 7 Years, Other Amendments in Senator

Extend Presidential Term to 7 Years, Other Amendments in Senator

Extend Presidential Term to 7 Years, Other Amendments in Senator

Extend Presidential Term to 7 Years, Other Amendments in Senator

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