President William Ruto, on Wednesday, November 16, downplayed attempts by a section of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmakers to repeal the two-term limit entrenched in the Constitution.
Speaking during a UDA Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi, the head of state asked the MPs to focus on laws to benefit the people instead of pushing for changes affecting the Executive.
He argued that the move was ill-advised and reiterated that his focus was to deliver services as promised during his campaigns.
“Do not spend your time pushing for selfish legislation like changing the constitution to remove term limits. My focus is service to the people,” Ruto told the members.
Ruto urged the legislators to prioritize laws aimed at supporting Kenya Kwanza's manifesto including the Hutlser Fund.
His sentiments came a week after Fafi MP, Salah Yakub, defended the plans to extend Ruto's reign to 2042.
Yakub claimed that a section of legislators affiliated with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza was determined to replace the two-term limit with an age limit capped at 75 years. The proposal thus championed Ruto staying in power for 20 years.
Nonetheless, UDA distanced itself from Yakub's sentiments and clarified that the move was the MP's personal stance and ambition.
"I wish to categorically state that Yakub made a personal statement which has nothing to do with UDA," read a statement issued by the Party Chairperson, Johnson Muthama.
"As a Party, we stand for open democracy and we remain supportive of the two-term presidential limit and no ongoing discussions to scrap it," he added.
The suggestion was also subjected to sharp criticism from members of the opposing faction of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition, who alluded to a plan by the incumbent President to cling to power beyond the constitutional limit.
Azimio MPs argued that Ruto was already showing signs of mutilating the Constitution and disobeying court orders.
Noteworthy, members of the National Assembly initiated a process of entrenching the National Government Constituency Fund (NG-CDF) in the Constitution despite the Supreme Court barring the exercise.
Although it was not sponsored by a UDA MP, the bill received the backing of the majority remembers from across the aisle in Parliament.
In addition, the members vowed to boycott house business in the event their demands to have NG-CDF funds disbursed were not heeded.
