The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has distanced itself from alleged plans to scrap the presidential term limit.
UDA, in a statement on Tuesday, November 8, dismissed the claims made by Fafi Member of Parliament Salah Yakub as a ‘product of a fertile imagination by the legislator’.
The President William Ruto-led outfit insisted that the party has not been part of discussions in regard to term limits and will not be part of ‘sideshows’.
“Remarks by Fafi MP Salah Yakub that there are plans to extend term limits for the President are a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator. UDA distances itself from the utterances by the MP,” UDA said.
“The Party has not been part of discussions in regard to term limits. The Party is busy implementing The Plan and will not be part of sideshows.”
Yakub had been quoted by a local daily saying the presidential limit cap should be on age and not the number of years one has served.
The legislator is said to have made the comments during a relief food distribution drive in Garissa County over the weekend.
The UDA claimed that some of his colleagues in the party were working on a Bill to amend the current law that restricts the presidential term limit to 2-five year terms and replace it with an age limit of 75 years.
He alluded that Ruto, 55, should be given more years to govern if he performs well.
“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,” the MP was quoted as saying.
“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.
Without revealing names, the lawmaker alleged the MPs behind the plot to amend the constitution, have been holding closed-door meetings to deliberate on the proposal.
The 10-year limit was introduced ahead of the 1992 elections following the repeal of section 2A of the old constitution. The limit was also retained by the drafters of the 2010 Constitution.
The proposal attracted heavy criticism from members of the opposition, who vowed to resist it.
Junet Mohamed, the Minority Whip in the National Assembly said, “This madness of Kenya Kwanza will come to an end very soon. They are talking about many things but once their minds settle, they will realise that they have work to do and stop all this monkey business they have been taking the country through in the last two months.”
Makueni MP Senator Dan Maanzo also poured cold water on 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,” Maanzo said.
A section of Kenyans online also opposed the proposal saying they would shoot it down if subjected to a referendum.
“When people show you their true colours, believe them. We shall resist the plans to remove term limits. Believe it or not, these dangerous plans will make William a one-term president. Any attempt to change the constitution to make William president for life will fail. Miserably,” activist Boniface Mwangi tweeted.
Lawyer Miguna Miguna said: “A cruel joke. Can’t pass. Won’t pass a referendum. Those mooting this nonsense are desperate to make William Ruto a one-term president. Don’t even imagine it!”
