Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge claims that the push to extend term limits for elected leaders is being engineered by some leaders from the ruling party who are keen on derailing President William Ruto’s administration.

Mr Mathenge, who is one of the key allies of Dr Ruto, claims that some 10 MPs and Senators – whom he did not mention their names – have crafted a number of Bills in Parliament so as to discredit the Kenya Kwanza government.

The first time MP said the lawmakers are within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party that is led by President Ruto, and that they are opposed to government programmes.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2024, which is championed by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, seeks to extend the terms of office for the President, Governors and Parliamentarians.

“The Senate Bill by Senator Cherargei is a calculated and well-designed move by a certain clique of people within the UDA party who have lately claimed they do not agree with certain government programmes to make the government unpopular,” Mr Mathenge told AVDelta News on phone.

“A number of such Bills by a clique of 10 MPs and Senators have been lined up to be presented in Parliament,” he added.

Mr Mathenge has promised to oppose the piece of legislation that is currently undergoing a public participation exercise that ends on Friday.

“I vehemently and strongly oppose the Bill to increase the term limit of any elective position. In the National Assembly, I will reject the introduction of the Cherargei Bill on the floor of the House at the first reading should it ever find its way there,” Mr Mathenge said.

In an exclusive interview with AVDelta News, Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) National Chairman Esau Kioni has termed the proposal as a selfish move driven by leaders.

He said the party strongly opposes the Bill, arguing that leaders should focus on addressing critical issues facing Kenyans.

“DP is the second oldest party in Kenya. As a party, we are concerned when we see some of our leaders tending to be selfish. What shall the leaders gain by increasing their term in office? DP is not supporting and will not support that Bill because it is anti-people,” Mr Kioni said.

Mr Kioni – who served as former security advisor to the late President Mwai Kibaki and former National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) boss – said that Mr Cherargei’s proposal should only be dealt with through a referendum.

“The Constitution 2010 states very clearly how the structure of the country’s leadership should be. Changing that structure requires a referendum because the wananchi have the sovereign power,” the party chairman said.

“That proposal is very depressing to our Kenyan people. We have social and economic problems facing our people and priority should be channeled towards addressing them instantly. The President should not allow anarchy to prevail in this country,” he added.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has also urged the Senate not to endorse the proposal, arguing that it offends the Constitution’s basic structure.

ODM party Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen on Monday noted that the Bill is a threat to the country’s democracy.

“We urge the Senate to reject this Bill and uphold the principles of good governance, the rule of Law and the Constitutional requirement for general public participation through a public referendum,” Mr Oduor said.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has also opposed the Bill, saying that it seeks to fulfill selfish interests of a section of politicians.

ICJ Kenya chapter chairperson Protas Saende said that the proposed amendments to the Constitution will weaken the governance framework.

“The political temperature, though rising, has yet to reach a boiling point and if our leaders continue down this path of self-serving legislation, they are pouring fuel on a smoldering fire,” Mr Saende said.

The Senate Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has been conducting public participation on the Bill since October 2, 2024.