Ruto's UDA party rejects bill seeking to extend presidential term limits, calls for withdrawal

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, under the leadership of President William Ruto, has firmly rejected a proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, which seeks to extend the current presidential term limit from five to seven years.

In a statement released on Wednesday, UDA Party Secretary Hassan Omar termed Cherargei's move as “cynical, profoundly misguided, and self-serving,” warning that it poses a threat to the democratic principles for which Kenyans have fought tirelessly.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposed by Senator Cherargei, aims to revise term limits for all holders of elective offices.

However, the UDA has strongly condemned the proposal, saying it does not seek to pursue any meaningful objectives beyond illegitimate, myopic and retrogressive ends.

“Of grave concern is that this cynical, profoundly misguided and self-serving Bill contravenes a long-held aspiration of the people of Kenya to retire the undemocratic entrenchment of unaccountable political monopolies, and seeks to deny the people regular opportunities to hold leadership to account and directly exercise sovereign power,” Hassan said.

The party's statement, which President Ruto reposted on his X account, further criticised the bill's proponents, accusing them of “political delinquency” and a lack of understanding regarding the historical significance and institutional necessity of term limits.

“The mastermind and sponsors of the constitutional amendment bill, who are preoccupied with sensational distractions and perverse indulgence in political delinquency and legislative mischief, have not engaged in sufficient reflection with regard to the historical origins, institutional basis and political necessity of term limits,” he said.

“Neither have they duly considered the explicit duty of leadership to respect, uphold and defend the letter and spirit of our constitution, and our commitment to offer leadership of our common national project of fully actualising its values and principles.”

Hassan emphasised that UDA honours the legacy of Kenya's struggle for constitutional change, which has led to a more progressive, democratic, and inclusive governance framework.

“UDA remembers the lessons of our nation's history and honours the long struggle of the people of Kenya for constitutional change, which delivered us a liberal, progressive, democratic and inclusive constitutional dispensation, that has enabled our nation to make impressive strides in consolidating our institutions, deepening our democracy, protecting our freedoms and placing our economy on the sustainable path of inclusive prosperity,” he said.

The UDA has called on any party members involved in the bill to withdraw their support immediately.

“The party therefore disassociates itself from the repugnant and backward bill and calls any of its rank and file who leads, supports or is, in any manner whatsoever, involved with it, to order: The bill is incompatible with our policy and aspirations,” Hassan said.

“This juvenile political experimentation and delinquent affront to our constitutional values must now crush to a halt.”