Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party distanced itself from the recent proposal to increase term limits for elected leaders in the country which has sparked mixed reactions from Kenyans.
Speaking during a courtesy visit in Kisumu on Sunday, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna maintained that ODM does not support any attempts to extend term limits for the president (currently occupied by William Ruto) and other elected leaders.
“The position of the ODM party is that we do not support any proposals to amend our Constitution to extend any elected leader's term in office,” he asserted highlighting that the proposed bill will erode Kenyans’ confidence in public institutions.
Sifuna made the remarks during a courtesy call to the Luo Council of Elders Chairman, Ker Odungi Randa, at his rural home in Nyando Sub-County.
According to Sifuna, the bill sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei is a waste of time and will not receive any votes in the Senate.
Cherargei, who is the author of the bill, argues that a 5-year term is inadequate for elected leaders to fulfill their promises and that holding elections every 5 years is expensive.
The proposal seeks to extend the term for elected leaders from 5 to 7 years meaning general elections will be held after every 7 years instead of the current 5.
The bill was subjected to a public participation exercise on Friday but was met with strong opposition from Kenyans with more than 240,000 sending memoranda about the bill.
The proposal continues to trigger mixed reactions from Kenyans and across the political divide, many strongly opposed the bill terming it unconstitutional.
Leaders from across the divide have voiced their opinions with many attacking Charargei for sponsoring the bill at a time when leaders need to focus on delivering the promises they made to the people.
Cherargaei, while defending the bill, noted that Kenya’s progress has always been affected by perpetual politicking and that the performance of a leader cannot be pegged on their period in office. He further reasoned that holding elections every five years is expensive for the taxpayers.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi dismissed the bill terming it as a staged drama that the Senate will not entertain. “Senator Cherargei likes drama all the time. We are saying we are not ready for drama. We are saying 5 years is enough for leaders in office,” he stated.
