In a recent surge of public engagement, the email system designated for comments on a controversial bill in Kenya’s Senate has crashed due to overwhelming feedback. This proposed legislation seeks to extend the terms of office for the President, county governors, and Members of Parliament from five years to seven, along with several other constitutional amendments.
This initiative has sparked considerable public outrage, prompting Kenyans to rally on social media platforms. According to a post on the Senate’s X account, they received over 200,000 submissions, reaching the maximum capacity of their system.
Despite being introduced by Senator Samson Cherargei, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, led by President William Ruto, has distanced itself from the bill. UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar criticized the proposal as “repugnant and backward,” as reported by the Nation newspaper.
Cherargei countered the criticism, arguing that a longer term of seven years would provide sufficient time for leaders to fulfill their commitments to the electorate. Public feedback was solicited until a recent Friday deadline.
Sources within the parliament informed The Star newspaper that emails were flowing in at an astounding rate, with no previous bill garnering such extensive responses. In light of the system issues, the Senate thanked the public and announced an alternative address for submissions.
In addition to extending term lengths, the bill proposes the creation of a prime minister position and increased funding for county administrations. A Senate committee is scheduled to review the public responses.
This legislative push comes during a period of intense scrutiny for Kenyan lawmakers, amid ongoing struggles with the rising cost of living. Protests erupting against tax increases since June have turned violent, resulting in at least 40 deaths. In response to the civil unrest, President Ruto reversed his tax plans and sought to include opposition figures in his cabinet, yet public cynicism towards politicians remains robust. Any moves perceived to extend political power are met with disdain.
This is the second attempt to alter the two-term limit for presidents since Ruto assumed office in 2022. Previously, a ruling party MP proposed an age limit of 75 years to replace it, but that suggestion was swiftly rejected following public backlash. The President has maintained that abolishing the term limit is “unnecessary and an exercise in futility.”
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