- His remarks come after the proposal by Cherargei caused an uproar among Kenyans, including leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
- The Nandi Senator submitted the proposal when he made his memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), earlier in the week.
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Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei's proposal to extend the presidential term from five to seven years has received backing from political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.
According to Ngunyi, Cherargei has a valid point, and that change is the only constant thing in the world.
The former technical advisor to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta called on those opposed to the proposal to imagine how much former President Mwai Kibaki (late) and Uhuru would have achieved if they had both served for 14 years.
He insisted that 10 years gives very little time for a sitting Head of State to achieve much change.
"Senator Cherargei is not without a point. Imagine if Uhuru or Kibaki were in office for 14 years each? And if Ruto is in office for 14 years till 2036? Change is the only constant thing in the world. Everything else changes. Ten years is too short to bring about changes. Or is It?" Ngunyi said on Wednesday.
His remarks come after the proposal by Cherargei caused an uproar among Kenyans, including leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Cherargei is not only a member of the President’s ruling UDA party but is also among his fiercest defenders.
The Nandi Senator submitted the proposal when he made his memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), earlier in the week.
“Increase the presidential term to seven years: Whereas the current Constitution provides for a two-term presidential term limit comprising ten years there is a need to increase the same to two terms of seven years each, ” Cherargei told the dialogue committee.
He defended the proposal, explaining that there is a need to give the President ample time to form and establish a formidable team to deliver on his or her manifesto.
The short period between elections, he noted, has been responsible for hot contests that sometimes generate chaos.
“Besides, the Kenyan 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,” Cherargei argued.
Despite this, the president's party, the United Democratic Alliance, strongly disagreed with the proposal and distanced itself from the Senator's "opinion".
In a statement, Secretary-General Cleophas Malala said the proposal by the senator is not the position of the party or that of the President.
He said Ruto swore to abide by and protect the Constitution, which spells out the presidential term limit.
"The UDA Party respects and upholds the Senator's personal views but particularly on the referenced subject, those views do not reflect the perspectives of the UDA Party and/or its Party Leader, President William Ruto," he said.
"The President solemnly swore to respect and uphold and defend the constitution which is abundantly clear and categorical on the Presidential term limit."
Malala said the ruling party's focus is to deliver on promises they made to Kenyans during campaigns.