Senator Kinyua Proposes Scraping Of Polls To Allow President, Governors Serve For 10 Straight Years

• President William Ruto broke his silence regarding a proposal by a lawmaker to have the presidential term limit scrapped
• Fafi MP Yakub Salah had hinted at tabling legislation to have age as the sole parameter in vying for the country's top seat
• John Kinyua observed that there is a need for Kenyans to allow the president and governors to serve for a 10-year-term

Uasin Gishu - In November 2022, senior officials of President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party denied backing a plan to repeal presidential term limits.

The governing party termed the proposal a product of “fertile imagination” which it said would not be entertained.

But now, Laikipia senator John Kinyua has proposed the scraping of elections to allow the president and county governors a chance to serve for 10 straight years.

"It is true that the Kenyan Constitution is very clear that a governor is given an opportunity to serve for a five-year term but a total term of 10 years if he is reelected."

What Kenya's five-year term means

Speaking to TV 47 on the sidelines of the 10th Devolution Conference 2023 at the Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu county on the evening of Tuesday, August 15, Kinyua observed that there is a need for Kenyans to give the president and governors an opportunity to serve for a 10-year-term.

"The author of the constitution had a clear mind that he wanted he governor as well as the president to serve for 10 years but there will be some examination after the five-year term so that they can assess to see if they are going to the right direction so that he can complete any pending development projects in the next five years," Kinyua explained.

In his own words, Kinyua, a close ally of President William Ruto, went on:

"So, it is true that it is good for the five years but in terms of tangible performance, tangible development from a governor, from the president, then it should be a 10-year term."

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Ruto broke his silence regarding a proposal by a lawmaker to have the presidential term limit scrapped.

MP Yakub Salah's proposal

Fafi MP Yakub Salah had hinted at tabling legislation to have age as the sole parameter in vying for the country's top seat.

According to Salah, limiting the term to ten years would not be enough for a president to deliver fully on his promises.

The proposal caused turmoil with many Kenyans coming out to criticise such a move.