Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa on Monday April 15, 2024 said that the Kenya Kwanza coalition will rule the country for the next 50 years.

The Kimilili MP believes that President William Ruto’s coalition should continue ruling the country just like South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) party and Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

For instance, ANC has governed South Africa since 1994 while CCM has ruled Tanzania since 1995.

Speaking on Monday during an interview with K24, Barasa disclosed that President Ruto is expected to rule for 10 years, after which he will hand over power to his successor from the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

“We can achieve that purpose by not necessarily removing the cap on the term limit but ensuring the presidents who will come after His Excellency Samoei Ruto will pick up from the progress that Ruto will have made from that time,” he said.

The Kenya Kwanza government came into power during the August 2022 general election as a section of leaders in the ruling coalition hinted at amending the constitution to increase the presidential term limits. 

For instance in September 2023, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei proposed that the presidential term limit should be extended from the current five to seven years.

Cherargei included a proposal to increase a presidential term limit in his report to the National Dialogue Committee at the Bomas of Kenya. 

The national dialogue committee that was chaired by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka was collecting views from leaders and Kenyans before drafting a final report and presenting it to parliament for debate and approval or rejection.

The Nandi Senator had argued that the current term limit is insufficient for an elected President to deliver on his mandate and promises to Kenyans.

However, Cherargei’s remarks were dismissed by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, terming his remarks as a personal opinion.

Still on the issue of presidential term limit, Fafi member of parliament (MP) Salah Yakub had proposed a plan to scrap off the two terms limit for president.

The Fafi MP maintained that a president should be allowed to lead the country beyond the two terms limit, in order to initiate more development in the country.

The UDA MP at the same time suggested that any person interested in contesting for the presidency should be 75 years and below.