Omtatah Proposes Reducing Presidential Term Limit to 3 Yrs; Here's Why

Activist Okiya Omtatah presenting his petition at the Supreme Court on Wednesday August 31, 2022.
Activist Okiya Omtatah presenting his petition at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
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Judiciary

Busia senator, Okiya Omtatah, vowed that the opposition was ready to quash any move to scrap the term limits of the presidency.

Omtatah, while speaking in an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, November 8, responded to Fafi MP, Salah Yakub's, proposal to extend President William Ruto's term to 20 years. 



Omtatah argued that the two five-year terms should be reduced to two three-year terms to enable voters to hold presidents accountable. 



“If we create a situation whereby the topmost office is going to be occupied for more than ten years, it will be detrimental.

Civil rights activist Okiya Omtatah chained himself to Police Headquarters Vigilance House fence to protest what he claimed to be police brutality against demonstrators
Civil rights activist Okiya Omtatah chained himself to Police Headquarters Vigilance House fence to protest what he claimed to be police brutality against demonstrators.
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"In fact, some of us think that we should reduce the term limit to two terms of three or four years so that if someone is making mistakes we can get rid of them much earlier and vote in someone else to do better,” Omtatah argued.

He condemned the idea of scrapping the presidential term limit and replacing it with an age cap of 75 years as a distraction orchestrated by the Kenya Kwanza administration. 



"It is a conscious attempt to distract the country from the goings on, the honourable member who made it has succeeded in diverting attention from issues that are burdening the Kenyan people," Omtatah stated.



Fafi legislator Salah Yakub, claimed that removing the presidential limit would ensure presidents who have a good development agenda stay in power. 

“We want to tell Kenyans that the limit on two terms should be relooked. We want it to be changed to an age limit where when one gets to 75 years then he or she cannot contest," Yakub stated while distributing relief food in Garissa County. 



His party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), through chairperson Johnson Muthama, refuted the claims, arguing that the sentiments were the MP's own assertions. 

"Please take note that Yakub made a personal statement which has nothing to do with UDA," Muthama watered down the proposal. 

According to Article 142 of the Constitution, the President shall hold office for a term beginning on the inauguration date and ending when the person next elected President is sworn in.

The 2010 Constitution bars candidates from serving more than two terms of five years. 

UDA Chairperson Johnstone Muthama addresses the media on January 8, 2021.
UDA Chairperson Johnstone Muthama addresses the media on January 8, 2021.
Daily Nation