The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has distanced itself from a proposal by Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei calling for the extension of the presidential term limit to seven years.
In a statement, UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala said that the proposals by Cherargei were his personal views and not those of the party. Malala instead termed the views expressed by the senator as superfluous and peripheral.Â
“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.
“The President solemnly swore to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution which is abundantly clear and categorial on the Presidential term limit,” Malala said.
Malala added that UDA, under the leadership of President Ruto, was presently focused on delivering on its campaign promises.
“The ruling party is presently focused on delivering on its promises to the People of Kenya, 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,” Malala said.
Cherargei, had in a memorandum presented to the bi-partisan talks team in Bomas, called for a review of the Constitution to increase the presidential term limits from the current five to seven years.
The senator, in his submission to the team led by National Assembly leader of the majority party Kimani Ichung’wa and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, argued that the current term limit of five years was sufficient for a President to implement his/her manifesto.
Cherargei also asked the team to establish the Office of the Prime Minister who will sit in Parliament and be the official spokesman of the government in the house.
The Constitution currently stipulates a presidential term limit will be five years with the possibility of an extension of another five years through a re-election.
“The President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in and ending when the person next elected President in accordance with Article 136 (2) (a) is sworn in,” states Chapter nine of the Constitution under Article 142.
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