By Michelle Ndaga
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei’s controversial proposal to extend the terms of elected leaders has once again sparked public outrage as it heads for a Second Reading in the Senate.
The Bill seeks to amend Articles 136, 101, 177, and 180 of the Constitution to lengthen the mandates of the president, members of parliament, senators, governors, and members of county assemblies.
The proposal, first floated in 2024, was overwhelmingly rejected during public participation, with 99.99 percent of submissions opposing it. Critics argue that it undermines the spirit of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which introduced strict term limits as a safeguard against authoritarianism.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, a member of the reviewing committee, reassured Kenyans that the Bill faces no realistic chance of success. He revealed that the committee had unanimously advised Cherargei to withdraw it, warning that the proposal raised more constitutional difficulties than it claimed to address.
Under Article 256, constitutional amendments of this nature require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament at both the Second and Third Readings a threshold widely seen as unattainable. The Bill may also stall at the debate stage if Senator Cherargei fails to secure a seconder.
With overwhelming public opposition, political arithmetic working against it, and resistance from fellow lawmakers, the Bill’s prospects appear virtually sealed.
