President William Ruto’s UDA party has distanced itself from the proposal to extend the term limit terming it ‘superfluous and peripheral’.
UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala termed the proposal a personal opinion that has no blessings of the ruling outfit.
“Our attention is drawn to various news headlines and media references to a memorandum submitted to the bipartisan talks team by Senator Samson Cherargei particularly on his proposal to increase the Presidential term limit to seven years,” Malala said in a statement on Monday.
“UDA party respects and upholds the senator’s personal views but particularly on the subject (term limit), those views do not reflect the perspective of the UDA party and/or its party leader, H E President William Ruto.”
Malala was responding to a proposal by Nandi Senator Samson Cheragei to vary the presidential term limit.
In a submission to the National Dialogue Committee, the Nandi senator proposes two terms of seven years each for the President.
Compared to the current 10-year tenure, the proposal if adopted, will mean a President serves for 14 years if he or she wins re-election.
“Increase the presidential term to seven years: Whereas the current constitution provides for a two-term presidential term limit comprising 10 years there is a need to increase the same to two terms of seven years each, ” Cherargei told the dialogue committee.
But Cherargei while responding to the developments said he will not be intimidated to drop his proposal which he insisted is in the best interest of the country.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, the Nandi Senator called on the Dialogue team not to be swayed by the critics of his proposal.
“I am urging Dialogic Committee not to be swayed by emotional blackmail. In five years this country is in campaign mood, one year is litigation and the next one year is for forming the government. This leaves only three years for work,” Cherargei said.
“I know this thing is unpopular especially those who want to be presidents. Those criticising me are lazy thinkers; let them bring their opinion on the table for discussion that is the beauty of democracy.”
He noted that the proposal which requires a referendum, should be left to Kenyans to decide on the ballot.
The proposal has attracted condemnation across the political divide with the opposition seeing a ploy to have Ruto stay longer in office.
But Malala on Monday assured the country that the President having sworn to protect the constitution, will be the last person to tinker with the term limit.
“The President solemnly swore to respect, uphold and defend the constitution which is abundantly clear and categorical on the Presidential term.”
According to the former Kakamega senator, the government is currently focused on delivering on its key promises to Kenyans.
“Respectfully therefore, the term limit debate is superfluous and peripheral.”
