Somewhere in August 2018, Cotu boss Francis Atwoli surprised the world when he suggested that Kenya needed to extend the term of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta to give him enough time to fight corruption.
Atwoli had never hidden his love for the son of the country’s first president and kept asking, publicly, where the world expected the “young” man to go at the expiry of his constitutional term. The young man would be 60 years old when he was expected to retire.
The workers’ representative, who himself has held the all-powerful secretary general position for more than two decades, argued then that Uhuru was probably the only Kenyan leader with the interest of the country at heart. He said others yearning for the presidency would “run away with the Central Bank” if given the position.
We know Atwoli and his 'patriotism' is all water under the bridge and the workers’ ambassador has changed tune as Uhuru enjoys his retirement. The fate of the Central Bank is no longer his business and the current officeholder, according to him, is what the doctor recommended for the country.
Now, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has taken Atwoli’s mantra. Without necessarily naming names, the legislator thinks the five-year term, with a possibility of a one-time renewal, is just too short for a president. He wants the term extended to seven years with a two-term limit, meaning a president should stay in office for a maximum of 14 years.
Cherargei has his reasons. But history and logic do not seem to agree that making a president’s term in office longer makes him more effective and the country better. Kenya’s first president ran the country for some 15 years and the second had a good 24. The jury is still out on whether they performed any better than the third and fourth who had 10 years each.
Presidential term limits are a crucial element of democratic governance, designed to prevent the consolidation of power and the emergence of authoritarian rule. In many countries, including Kenya, presidential terms have traditionally been limited to five years, with the option for reelection for a second term. However, proposals to extend these terms are becoming increasingly common.
I, however, feel that extending presidential terms creates fertile ground for dictatorship, as it undermines the principles of democratic accountability and limits the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.
One of the most significant dangers of extending presidential terms is the concentration of power. A longer term allows a sitting president to amass more authority, control over institutions and influence over the political landscape. This concentration of power can lead to unchecked executive authority and a decline in the separation of powers.
In a democracy, the distribution of power among different branches of government is essential to prevent authoritarianism. Extending the term provides more time for a president to manipulate and weaken these checks and balances, paving the way for dictatorship.
A shorter presidential term ensures that leaders are held accountable for their actions more frequently. If a president fails to deliver on their promises or engages in corruption and abuse of power, voters have the opportunity to remove them from office after a relatively brief period.
However, extending the term reduces the frequency of elections and, consequently, the opportunities for citizens to express their dissatisfaction. This prolonged period can shield a non-performing or corrupt president from accountability, as the electorate's memory fades over time.
Democracies thrive on the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and address the evolving needs of society. A longer presidential term restricts the opportunities for citizens to make course corrections if a leader is ineffective or if the nation faces unforeseen challenges.
The pace of change and policy adjustments may become slower, leading to stagnation and rigidity in governance. Extending the term undermines the democratic principle of flexibility and responsiveness to the will of the people.
Presidential term limits are an essential democratic norm that ensures the peaceful transfer of power. Extending terms beyond the established norms erodes the foundations of democracy by suggesting that leaders can entrench themselves in power for extended periods.
This can lead to a normalisation of authoritarian behaviour and a weakening of the democratic culture. A longer term creates the perception that political leaders are more interested in retaining power than serving the interests of the nation, further eroding trust in democratic institutions.
With a longer term, sitting presidents may have more time and resources to manipulate electoral processes and suppress opposition. The extended period provides an opportunity to engage in gerrymandering, voter suppression and other tactics that undermine the fairness and integrity of elections. This can result in a skewed electoral landscape that favours the incumbent, making it even more challenging for opposition parties to compete on a level playing field.
Extending presidential terms is a dangerous move that creates fertile ground for dictatorship. It concentrates power, reduces accountability, limits opportunities for change, erodes democratic norms, and increases the potential for electoral manipulation.
The existing system of two five-year terms in Kenya allows for a balance between continuity and accountability, ensuring that leaders who perform well have the opportunity to be reelected while also allowing for a timely change in leadership when needed.
Protecting these democratic principles is vital for the health and stability of any democracy, and extending presidential terms threatens to undermine them. Kenyans have good reason to maintain the current term limits, as they serve as a safeguard against the consolidation of authoritarian power and the erosion of democratic values.