Ruto Man Hatches New Plan to Extend Presidential Term, Again
If a bill scheduled to be introduced in the Senate is approved, Kenya’s election process might change.
Based on the initial details of the proposed bill, there is a suggestion to extend the presidential term length from five years to seven years.
Furthermore, if the bill is approved, the term length for Members of Parliament, Governors, and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) will also be extended to 7 years.
Additionally, the bill seeks to formally create the Office of the Prime Minister within the constitution. Currently, Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi serves as the country’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, although the 2010 constitution does not officially recognize this position.
The bill introduced by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also suggests that the Senate should be involved in the evaluation process of Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, and the Auditor General.
Cherargei is seeking for the Senate to be given authority to review the appointments of the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, and judges.
If the proposed legislation is approved, counties could gain from the bill’s provision to increase their share of national revenue from 15% to 40% as an equitable distribution.
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One notable aspect of the bill is the requirement for both the National Assembly and the Senate to give consent before the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) can be sent to other countries.
Samson Cherargei, who plans to introduce the bill, has also suggested that impeachment cases against a governor and deputy governor should be contested exclusively in the Supreme Court.
The proposed legislation aligns with the suggestions made by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
The bipartisan committee advocated for the establishment of the Prime Minister’s Office, an official Office for the Leader of the Opposition, and offices for the Leader’s two deputies.
Notably, this isn’t the first instance of such a proposal being presented, as Cherargei had put forward a similar suggestion in September 2023.
President William Ruto dismissed the suggestion, emphasizing that he honors the Constitution and will strictly follow it.
Ruto Man Hatches New Plan to Extend Presidential Term, Again