Immediate former Taita Taveta County Woman Representative Joyce Lay on November 30, found herself on the receiving end after she vowed to push for amendments in the constitution that would give way for an extension of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.
On a Twitter post, the former woman representative claimed that President Kenyatta deserved another term in office to complete major projects that he started.
“I want to push for an amendment to have H.E Uhuru Kenyatta run for another term as the president of this country. Kenya [is safer] with him than anyone else,” she posted.
“He means well but people are bitter and they speak so negative about the President. Do we really want to change?” she added.
Further, the former women representative called for Kenyans to be patient with reforms, calling for a halt in the passing of the BBI report recommendations.
“If we want to see change then we have to put our bitterness away and take the opportunity while we have him in office. Let us tell them to keep the BBI report, we can hold it for like three months and let us demand the full implementation of the constitution,” she suggested.
He opinion was not received well by Kenyans, many arguing that there was no need to have changes in the constitution for extension of anyone's tenure in office.
Julishwa wrote, “Full implementation of the constitution means a maximum of two terms for President Uhuru. If this is hard to honour, I don't think there is any document that will save this country,”
“Are you in Parliament? What is this crazy talk? How come you all have become so crazy and reckless after working around Kibaki and learning what political discipline and constitutional restraint are?” Benji Ndolo wondered.
“These guys have messed us up big time and you are here suggesting we add them an extra five years? What have you been smoking [sic]? We have defaulted loans till banks no longer chase us but ask for meetings to agree on how we can repay the loans conveniently. Business in is unbearable,” Andrew Kioko weighed in.
Anne Kariuki commented “Please keep your thoughts to yourself. It is unconstitutional. Being in the cold is very cold it breeds unconstitutional thoughts.”
“No. First, it's unconstitutional. Second, this president has been at the helm of the worst ever administration since independence. Kenya is poorer and more divided than ever. Peace does mean no war. Don't forget that the last person we extended for lasted 24 years,” noted a Twitter user.
According to the Parliament's regulations on the introduction of a bill, anyone can suggest amendments to law if they are able to convince an MP to sponsor it to the house for debate.
“The idea may come from MPs or senators, committees of the Senate, the Executive, professional organizations, lobbyists or individuals," reads an excerpt of Parliament's regulations.
Joyce Lay served in the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017, when she lost her bid to secure a seat in the Senate.
