The Senate has dismissed claims that the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to extend the terms of office for the President, Members of Parliament, and other elected leaders from five to seven years.
In a clarification on Tuesday, the Senate said the information circulating online is false and not supported by the contents of the Bill.
“Nowhere in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is there any proposal to extend the terms of office for the President, Governors, MPs, or MCAs,” the statement said.
The Senate also rejected speculation that the Bill aims to create the position of Prime Minister, noting that the proposals do not address the structure of the national executive.
According to the Senate, the Bill’s primary objective is to strengthen devolution and enhance the role of the Upper House.
Key proposals include enhancing bicameralism by requiring that most laws be considered and passed by both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The Bill also seeks to give the Senate a direct role in the national budget-making process and in approving key state officers, including the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General.
Additionally, the Bill proposes the creation of a County Assembly Fund to guarantee financial independence for county legislatures.
The Senate urged Kenyans to verify information before sharing, emphasising that the Bill focuses on improving parliamentary procedures to better support counties, rather than changing term limits or executive structures.
Some social media users, including human rights activists, have expressed objections to the Bill.
A review by The Star found that the first page of the Bill circulating online actually belongs to the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024, and not the version currently before the Senate.
