'I am nobody’s stooge!’ Cherargei declares amid criticism on proposal to extend term limits

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei now says his proposal to amend the term limit of elected leaders to 7 years is not sponsored by his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

Cherargei, who has come under criticism from certain quarters for sponsoring the Bill, said he is exercising his right as a legislator and Kenyans are free to critic, amend or even reject his proposal.

He also dismissed the notion that his amendment is related to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) proposals to change several laws and clauses in the Constitution.

“This is a private members bill, many people have assumed that I am doing it on behalf of my party or any other interest, I am not. I don’t sit in any House leadership, I don’t chair any committee, I don’t sit in the National Governing Council of the party nor do I hold any position in the party to bring perception that I am doing it for the party,” he told the press on Thursday.

According to Cherargei, he saw it fit to introduce the amendment after the NADCO report was tabled to supplement and spice it further by introducing the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2024 at the Senate which will assist in curing political impasse witnessed after every General Election.

“My proposal is totally different from the NADCO report, it’s just complimentary to the report and Kenyans will be free to interrogate and amend the Bill,” he said.

“I am proposing the term limits for the President, Governors, Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly to be increased from the current five to seven years, this being one of the proposals to cure political impasse after every General Election.”

The Nandi Senator also seeks to have the Senate given veto powers to enable Senators vet Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney General, Auditor General, Inspector General of Police, Chief Justice and Judges, and make the National Assembly vet Ambassadors.

Cherargei, in his Bill, seeks to have the impeachment of Governors and Deputy Governors to be challenged only at the Supreme Court, which must then make a determination within 30 days and both Houses of Parliament to approve deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The Nandi Senator further seeks to have the allocation of shareable revenue to counties from the National Treasury increased from 15 to 40 per cent, stating that he did not get a chance to present his proposals before NADCO at the Bomas of Kenya.