The Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has recommended rejecting a contentious bill that sought to extend the terms of elected officials from five to seven years.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, introduced by Senator Samson Cherarkey, encountered overwhelming public opposition, with 99.99% of submissions during the consultation phase disapproving the changes.
“The voice of the Kenyan people has been clear,” stated Committee Chairperson Senator Hillary Wakili Sigei while presenting the report to the Senate plenary.
“Out of 168,801 submissions, only eleven stakeholders offered comments on specific clauses, while the vast majority outright rejected the proposed amendments.”
The bill aimed not only to extend terms for the President, Members of Parliament, Governors, and County Assembly Members but also to create the position of Prime Minister and modify the Senate’s role within the bicameral system.
“During our public hearing at the KICC Amphitheater on October 25, we saw remarkable unity among Kenyans,” Sen. Sigei noted
. “Except for one stakeholder, all presenters urged us to reject this bill entirely.”
The committee’s decision was influenced by public sentiment and procedural issues.
“Even if some proposed amendments had merit, parliamentary practices prevent us from separating the contentious parts,” Sen. Sigei explained.
“The Constitution mandates that such amendments garner support from both the public and parliamentarians before passage.”
Looking forward, the committee proposed significant procedural reforms, recommending that at least fifteen senators’ signatures be required to support any constitutional amendment proposal before it can be published as a bill.
“This decision reflects our commitment to uphold the spirit of our Constitution and serve the public interest,” concluded Sen. Sigei.
The bill’s future now depends on Senator Cherarkey, who must secure sufficient support to advance it to the next stage. Without this backing, the bill is unlikely to proceed.
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