In Kenya, the duration of the mandates of elected officials, including that of the president, at the heart of a debate. A senator submitted a proposal to amend the constitution and extend the mandate of the president and those of parliamentarians from 5 to 7 years. A proposal which divides within the presidential camp and which is not unanimous in Kenyan society.
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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard
At Kenyathe president is eligible for two five-year terms. The senator behind the proposal considers this duration too short to allow the head of state to carry out his program. According to him, increasing the term of office of the president and parliamentarians to seven years would also reduce the costs associated with elections.
The proposal is outrageous even within the presidential camp. William Ruto’s party, from which Senator Samson Cherargei comes, has dissociated itself from it. Its secretary general judged the bill “ disgusting and backward “, calling it “ an affront to constitutional values » of the country. The leader of the majority in the National Assembly also firmly rejected it. Just like several members of the opposition. Some believe that the issue is far from the country’s priorities and that the current five years are enough. Others fear that such a change in the constitution would be a source of political instability.
The subject in any case provokes a reaction in public opinion. The Kenyans had one month to submit their opinion to the Senate. The latter received more than 240,000 responses. The official mailbox was saturated and a second address had to be communicated. A Senate committee must now study the responses received.
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