The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party has distanced itself from a proposal by Senator Samson Cherargei to increase presidential term limits.
The President William Ruto-led party says that although it respects Cherargei’s personal views, the same views do not reflect the perspectives of the UDA Party or its leader.
The president solemnly swore to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution which is abundantly clear and categorical on the Presidential term limit,” UDA says in a statement on Monday, September 25.
‘We are so busy delivering on our promises’
UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala says that the party is currently so busy, focused on delivering on its promises to the people of Kenya.
“[UDA is] mindful that it shall in due course submit its scorecard for the people to evaluate. In doing so, We are guided by the timeline to the next general election. This is why, for the past few months, the UDA party has published a timeline portal for all its electoral activities on http://timeline.uda.ke/.,” Malala says.
Malala adds: “Respectively therefore, the term limit debate is superflous and peripheral.”
Cherargei creates a storm
The Nandi Senator, in a memorandum submitted to the Bipartisan Talks team at Bomas of Kenya, proposed to amend the Constitution to extend presidential term limits from the current 5 years to 7 years.
Cherargei’s proposal has elicited negative reactions among Kenyans, with some reading mischief.
Although different Kenya Kwanza leaders have come out to clarify that Cherargei is acting alone in the debate, some political analysts say the administration is testing waters.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, for example, says that the Kenya Kwanza administration’s goal is to increase presidential term limit.
“This is just a trial balloon and the tip of the iceberg. Their ultimate goal is to abolish presidential term limits. But they will not succeed. They will meet full resistance of Kenyans,” Wandayi says.
Why seven years?
Senator Cherargei, a close ally of President Ruto, argues that two terms of seven years each will enable the president to have good opportunity to form and establish formidable team to deliver his manifesto.
“Besides, the Kenya presidential election is always highly profiled as a result of it being conducted within a short period of time thus making it a Do or Die adventure,” Cheragei says.
