A showdown in Parliament looms after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party reveals plans to scrap the controversial Kenya Constitution Amendment (No. 2) Bill 2024 as an insult to Kenyans. .
Party General Secretary Edwin Sifuna, Party Vice President Godfrey Osotsi and Governor Kakamega (Fernandez Barasa, who is also the County ODM Chairman) have vowed to reject the bill when the time comes for consideration.
The bill by Nandi Senator Samson Chelargay proposes to extend the term of office of the President, Senators, National Assembly, Governors and County Assemblies (MCAs) from the current five years to seven years.
Speaking at the Kenya Union of Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Vihiga branch annual general meeting held in Majengo and Butere, leaders of Vihiga in two different capacities said ODM opposes the bill.
Senator Sifuna announced plans to convene party members in both the National Assembly and the Senate to kill the bill.
He said no party member would support Cheralgay’s efforts to extend the terms of elected leaders.
“There are always crazy people in every market, so there are crazy people in Congress. You can’t just wake up and say you want to raise term limits,” Sifna said.
He added: “As the secretary-general of the ODM party, I know that we are satisfied with the five-year term provided by the constitution. As leaders, we should accept it and after the end of our term, we will We should go back to the voters and give them another chance,” he added. Isn’t that so?” said Shifuna.
For his part, Senator Osotsi said the controversial Kenya Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 was proposed by one person and lacked support after ODM distanced itself from the bill. Therefore, there is no possibility that the bill will pass with a majority vote.
He added that the current five-year term provides enough time for officials to implement policies, so bidding is unnecessary.
The lawmakers said, “We are not ready to start a drama.Five years is enough for leaders to fulfill their duties.”
Barrasa said the move to raise term limits would be a major setback to the 2010 constitution, which stipulates that elected leaders serve for five years and can be re-elected for a second term.
“We would like to tell the sponsors of the motion not to amend the constitution. The president has a five-year term and if he does a good job he can be re-elected. The same goes for us governors. Then he can serve a second term,” Barrasa said.
The County Mayor acknowledged that the 2010 Constitution has been in force for almost 14 years and any changes to the Constitution must be people-oriented.
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“I know that Nandi Senator Samson Chelargei is just having a taste because the constitution is clear. As Kakamega County ODM chairman, I strongly oppose the proposal,” he said. Ta.
Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wyclef Oparanya opposed the proposal, saying it would cause unrest in the country and destabilize the peace.
Mr Oparanya said the proposal does not seek to address any of the cost of living challenges witnessed in the country.
“The Kenyan Kwanzaa government that I am currently serving has a detailed plan for its people and its proposals will not affect our plans. Even if we increase term limits for elected leaders, There will be no impact on development,” Oparanya said.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Sabra said that was not possible and questioned the rationale for the proposal.
“We don’t want Museveni in this country. The solemn power rests with the people and the people want their elected leaders to serve five years, not seven years,” Sabra said. Ta.
This comes after thousands of Kenyans shared a memorandum with the Senate rejecting the proposed bill.
The Senate has revealed it has received more than 200,000 memorandums from Kenyans submitting comments on a bill seeking to extend term limits.
The window for public participation on the controversial bill closed on Friday, October 25th.
This is the second attempt to change presidential term limits since President William Ruto was elected in 2022, the first being led by pro-Fafi lawmaker Farah Yaqub.
Yakub had proposed eliminating term limits and replacing them with an age limit of 75 years.
President Ruto is among those who opposed the move, pledging to take the lead in taking similar measures in the future if attempts to raise term limits are raised.
The controversial bill also proposes the creation of a Prime Minister’s Office to be appointed by the president.
