Fafi Member of Parliament, Salah Yakub, opined that presidents with development records should not be subjected to the two-term limit given the economic impact they can have on the country.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Tuesday, November 8, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP maintained his stand to extend President William Ruto's term, expressing that it was in the country's best interest.
Yakub explained that the former head of state, Mwai Kibaki, was prevented from staying in office despite the economic milestones he achieved in his 10-year reign.
He added that some of his colleagues in UDA - who share similar ideologies - believed that Kibaki should have served for another term.
"If you have a cook in your home and he or she works well, you can't just wake up one morning and decide to change them.
"We looked at Kibaki who did a very good job for the 10 years but the Constitution capped him. Some of us were for the idea that should he have served for another term, we could have gone on another level," he stated.
Nonetheless, he reiterated that the idea was not at an advanced stage, asserting that the discussions would mature at the right time.
He claimed that a section of Kenyans supported the reportedly successful idea in Europe, which has seen some countries attain economic development.
"It is happening in Europe, like Denmark and Germany. It's not an issue of changing the personnel but the delivery of goods," he clarified.
In response to the potential disciplinary action from UDA, Yakub revealed that he had not yet been reprimanded, nor was there a plan to de-whip him.
Ruto's allies and the UDA party distanced themselves from the proposal insisting that it was the sole idea of the legislator.
"Remarks by Fafi MP Salah Yakub that there are plans to extend term limits for the President are a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator.
"UDA distances itself from the utterances by the MP." read UDA's statement in part.
