A lawmaker has disclosed plans to scrap off the presidential term limit, noting that the limit should be based on age, not period of service.
Fafi MP Salah Yakub said some UDA MPs are staging a constitutional amendment Bill to remove the two-term limit and replace it with an age limit of 75 years.
Should the lawmakers plans succeed, the sitting President would have a leeway to seek re-election for four terms.
Mp Salah Yakub, who said there have been closed-door discussions on the proposal, however did not want to disclose the names of the MPs behind the new development or whether it has the blessing of the UDA party top brass.
Mr Yakub said that what is remaining is for the proposers to sit and draft the constitutional amendment Bill and forward it to Parliament.
He first made the comments during a relief food distribution drive in Garissa County over the weekend, where he said: “We want to tell Kenyans that the limit on two terms should be relooked. We want it changed to age limit of 75 years.
“We will come up with an amendment Bill to try to change this because we want the requirement to be on age limit and not terms. If a president is doing a good job, then he or she should not be limited by the terms,” he added.
The two-term limit came into effect ahead of the 1992 elections following the repeal of section 2A of the old constitution. The 2010 Constitution maintained the presidential term limit.According to Article 142 of the Constitution, the President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President is sworn in, and ending when the person next elected President is sworn in. The article goes ahead to state that a person shall not hold office as president for more than two terms.
The timing of such a proposal, coming only three months after a hotly contested presidential election, could raise political temperatures.
A proposal of such magnitude, however, would require the proposer to marshal a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, as well as a simple majority of Kenyans in a referendum.
National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed laughed off the plans, saying the presidential term limit is cast in stone.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo also dismissed the proposal, terming it “totally ridiculous” and next to impossible. “Where will such an amendment pass through? He is just looking for cheap publicity. It will be a waste of time,” said Mr Maanzo.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said such a move would be met with stiff resistance from Kenyans, while Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said: “Let them bring it first then we shall see what next. We will not waste time on roadside or funeral declarations.”
