‘We should not entertain’ – Governor Barasa trashes Cherargei’s proposal to increase time period restrict – Folks Day by day
Hours after the deadline for submitting views on the proposed Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2024 lapsed, varied leaders have continued to boost myriad opinions concerning the proposal.
The newest political chief so as to add his voice to the talk is Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa. Speaking on Saturday, October 26, 2024, the first-term Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) governor expressed opposition to the invoice.
The invoice sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei seeks to extend the time period limits for the president, governors, members of parliament, and members of county assemblies from the present 5 to seven years.
Barasa who has been popularising ODM in Kakamega, rallied upon different leaders to show down the proposal. He famous that leaders ought to at any level entertain the idea of seeking to extend their tenures.
Defending his opinion, Barasa indicated that every one elected leaders ought to try to serve the folks throughout the present time period limits after which search re-election based mostly on their efficiency.
Barasa described the thought of accelerating time period limits as retrogressive which goals at watering down the progress of the nation’s democracy.
“As leaders, we must respect the constitution of Kenya which gives power for five years and if you work well then you are re-elected for another five-year term,” Barasa insisted.
“We should not entertain the idea of saying people should serve for seven years. That is unconstitutional and I know Senator Cherargei was just tasting waters.”
The concept has been broadly opposed by each leaders from the ruling celebration and people from the opposition. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) issued a press assertion distancing the celebration from the invoice.
President William Ruto on his aspect additionally opposed the push to increase the term limit from five to seven years.
I stand with my fellow leaders in rejecting Senator @scherargei‘s proposal to increase time period limits for elected leaders from 5 years to 7 years. This transfer is a step backwards. pic.twitter.com/RR1A9BPcl1
— FCPA Fernandes Barasa, OGW (@BarasaFernandes) October 26, 2024
Public opinion
Despite widespread dissent, the Bill was subjected to public participation which closed on Friday, October 25, 2024, with Kenyans urged to make their submissions both by way of hand-delivery on the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, or by e-mail.
On the ultimate day, the Senate made it public that it had received over 200,000 submissions, reaching the utmost capability of the allotted e-mail addresses.
The Senate appealed to Kenyans to alternatively use [email protected] to make their submissions.
“Thank you for the overwhelming response to The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 2) Bill,2024. Due to high volumes of submissions, our email system has temporarily experienced issues,” the Senate mentioned in a press release.
Currently, the elected leaders serve for five-year phrases earlier than in search of re-election. The president and governors are restricted to 2 consecutive phrases, whereas members of parliament and MCAs don’t have any time period limits.
Cherargei’s invoice additionally proposes the workplace of the prime minister who can be appointed by the president.
“The Bill seeks to amend Article 151 by inserting 151A which proposes to create the office of the Prime Minister who shall be appointed by the president from amongst the members of Parliament. The Prime Minister shall be the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in Parliament,” the invoice reads partly.
