Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has alleged that the Senate has received over 500,000 emails of which 60% of Kenyans support his Bill on extending President William Ruto's Term from 5 years to 7 years.
According to the Senator, only 40% of Kenyans rejected the Bill. The Senator made the revelation while at a Senate hearing on Tuesday where he revealed Gen Zs have been buzzing his phone with phone calls and messages over the Bill.
"As of now, 60% of Kenyans are supporting my Bill, 40% are opposing it," Cherargei alleged.
During his contribution, the senator further alleged that his privacy was breached while commenting on the data privacy issue during the Parliamentary session.
"I have been a victim of a data privacy breach for the past week. My phone has been ringing, I have received insults. I have received praises," the senator alleged.
"My phone has over 12,000 messages, I have close to 20,000 WhatsApp messages, very many phone calls."
The Constitutional Amendment Bill fronted by the senator seeks to extend the terms in office for the president, county governors, Members of Parliament, and those of county assemblies from five to seven years, among other constitutional amendments.
It has so far received rejections from several bodies in government including the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM).
On Monday, ODM party Executive Director Odour Ong’wen challenged the Senate to reject the Bill noting that it poses a threat to the nation’s democracy and that the Senate should reject it completely.
“We therefore urge the Senate to reject this Bill and uphold the principles of good governance, the rule of law, and the constitutional requirement for genuine public participation through a public referendum,” he urged.
According to Ong’wen, the proposed amendment contravenes several sections of the constitution including laws relating to the supremacy of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the sovereignty of the people.
“We wish to register our concern by expressing our total rejection of the proposed Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) no. 2 bill, 2024 in its entirety. This rejection is based on the contravention of article 255 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and subversion of its basic structure,” he said on Monday, 29 October.
Meanwhile, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa has alleged that President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga are behind the Bill.
The Senator cited the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report which, with the help of a panel selected by both President William Ruto and former ODM leader Raila Odinga, brought forth several issues including a proposed extension of term limits. He was speaking during the Obinna Show on Monday, 29.
