In an unprecedented display of democratic participation, Kenyans have overwhelmingly rejected a controversial bill seeking to extend term limits for elected officials, with an astounding 99.99% of submissions opposing the proposed changes.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.courtesy photo
The Constitutional Amendment Bill, sponsored by Senator Samson Cherargei, which sought to extend term limits from five to seven years for elected leaders, including the president, has been decisively rejected by the Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights following massive public opposition.
The committee received an overwhelming 168,801 submissions from citizens, marking one of the largest public participation exercises in Kenya’s legislative history. The sheer volume of responses temporarily crashed the Senate’s email systems, highlighting the intensity of public engagement with the matter.
Committee Chairperson Boaz Okello emphasised the unequivocal nature of the public’s response. “The voice of Kenyans has been loud and clear. The statistics speak for themselves – virtually all submissions opposed any tampering with the current term limits as enshrined in our constitution,” Okello stated during the committee’s announcement.
The rejection comes as a significant setback for Senator Cherargei, who had earlier claimed that approximately 60% of Kenyans supported the term extension. His assertions were dramatically contradicted by the actual submission data, raising questions about the basis of his initial claims.
Legal expert Dr. Sarah Kimani from the University of Nairobi’s School of Law noted the historical significance of the public response. “This level of public participation and the near-unanimous rejection of the proposed amendments demonstrate the Kenyan people’s strong commitment to protecting democratic institutions and term limits,” she explained.
The proposed amendments would have significantly altered Kenya’s political landscape by:
- Extending presidential terms from five to seven years
- Lengthening parliamentary terms correspondingly
- Affecting term limits for all elected officials, including governors and members of county assemblies
Civil society organisations welcomed the committee’s decision. James Orengo, Executive Director of the Democracy Watch Kenya, remarked, “This is a victory for constitutional democracy. Kenyans have sent a clear message that they will not countenance any attempts to extend term limits through the back door.”
The overwhelming rejection has broader implications for Kenya’s democratic trajectory. Political analyst Dr. Peter Wafula observed, “This response reflects growing democratic maturity among Kenyans and their determination to protect constitutional safeguards against potential autocratic tendencies.”
Opposition leaders have also praised the public’s response. “The people have spoken decisively against any attempts to extend term limits. This should serve as a lesson to anyone harbouring similar ambitions in future,” stated Opposition Chief Whip Junet Mohammed.
The Committee’s report highlighted several key concerns raised in public submissions:
- Potential threat to democratic principles
- Risk of autocratic tendencies
- Economic implications of extended terms
- Constitutional integrity
Despite the bill’s rejection, Senator Cherargei defended his proposal: “While I respect the committee’s decision and public opinion, I maintain that longer terms would have provided elected leaders more time to implement their development agenda effectively.”
However, constitutional lawyer Martha Karua countered this assertion: “The issue has never been about the length of terms but rather about the principle of regular democratic renewal through elections. Five years is ample time for effective leadership.”
The rejection of the bill is being viewed as a testament to Kenya’s maturing democracy and the effectiveness of public participation in the legislative process. The Committee’s decision aligns with similar rejections of term limit extensions in other African nations, where such proposals have often been seen as attempts to entrench political power.
As the dust settles on this legislative episode, the overwhelming public rejection serves as a powerful reminder of Kenyans’ commitment to preserving democratic institutions and constitutional term limits. The Senate Committee’s alignment with public opinion has reinforced the principle that sovereign power belongs to the people, as enshrined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
The bill’s decisive rejection is expected to discourage similar attempts to alter term limits in the future, setting a significant precedent for public participation in Kenya’s legislative process.
