Kenyans have until this Friday, October 25, 2024, to submit their opinions on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to extend the terms of the President and all elected leaders from five to seven years. In a public notice, Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye announced that the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights, which is considering the bill, will hold a public hearing on the same day.
The bill, tabled by Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey, was first introduced in the Senate on September 26. The public is invited to submit written memoranda by Friday, as part of the committee’s duty to ensure public participation.
The proposed bill aims to amend key articles of the Constitution, including Articles 101, 177, 180, and 136, to extend the terms of the President, MPs, MCAs, and governors to seven years. Additionally, the bill proposes the creation of a Prime Minister’s office, whose occupant would be appointed by the President from among members of Parliament. This mirrors proposals from the National Dialogue Committee and the Building Bridges Initiative.
Other amendments include enhanced Senate powers, giving the body exclusive authority to vet and approve key state officials, such as Cabinet secretaries, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and judges.
This bill follows a similar 2022 attempt by Fafi MP Salah Yakub, which aimed to remove presidential term limits and impose an age limit of 75 years, though the proposal was unsuccessful.
