The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday directed all its members of Parliament to shoot down proposals to extend term limits for elected leaders from 5 years to 7 years.
In a statement after a meeting of county chairpersons from all the 47 counties in the country under the auspices of the Council of County Chairpersons (CoCC), the party maintained their stance to reject proposals by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei to increase term limits for elected leaders to 7 years.
“The leaders have further resolved to oppose the proposed amendments to the constitution to extend the terms of elected leaders from 5 to seven years and called on the ODM MPs to shoot down the said proposals in Parliament,” read the statement in part.
The Council further directed its MPs to ensure there are no clawbacks to devolution and specifically resist any attempts to reduce the shareable allocation to the counties.
It came as the bill by Senator Cherargei drew mixed reactions from Kenyans across the political divide. In his bill, Cherargei argues that an extension of term limit will save the country billions of money.
ODM, despite joining the government, rejected the bill as a threat to democracy. Earlier on Sunday, Secretary-General of ODM Edwin Sifuna vowed to reject the bill in the Senate.
In the national meeting, the chairs reiterated the need to retain the identity and ideology of the party as an independent opposition political party founded on the values of social democracy.
ODM-elected leaders were urged to speak in one voice on critical matters affecting the party to avoid confusing the party rank and file.
The meeting also endorsed the appointment of the Governor of Kisumu County Anyang' Nyong'o as the Acting Party Leader to lead in the absence of the substantive party leader Raila Odinga who is currently engaged in the campaign for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
At the same time, the Council expressed confidence in the newly appointed national party officials. Governor Gladys Wanga was appointed the national chairperson while Governors Simba Arati and Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir together with Senator Godfrey Osotsi were named the deputy party leaders.
The National meeting was held for a brainstorming session and consultations on various matters of national and party interest.
Following a directive by the National Executive Committee (NEC) early this month, the party also made plans to conduct grassroots elections in the month of November in a bid to strengthen the party.
The board announced to release of a formal schedule of the exercise across the country on or before November 4.
