Seven Years or Five? Cherargei Reopens Term Limits Fight

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has reignited debate over presidential term limits, exposing tensions within the ruling coalition and raising questions about President William Ruto’s political future ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Mosop, Nandi County, Cherargei challenged Ruto’s opponents to prepare for the 2032 elections rather than focus on the next polls.

He also threatened to revive his proposal to extend presidential and other elected leaders’ terms from five to seven years.

The idea is not new. Cherargei first floated it through the National Dialogue Committee in 2023 before sponsoring the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

He argued that frequent election campaigns leave governments with too little time to implement development programmes.

The proposal met stiff resistance. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah dismissed the Bill as “dead on arrival” showing that support for Ruto did not automatically translate into backing for longer terms.

The United Democratic Alliance also distanced itself from the proposal in October 2024, arguing that longer terms would weaken accountability.

Other elected leaders offered competing views. Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa proposed cutting terms to four years, while Migori Senator Eddy Oketch criticised the initiative, citing Kenya’s struggle for democratic governance.

Public opposition was also strong. The Senate’s Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee recommended rejecting the Bill after receiving 168,801 submissions in November 2024, most of them against extending terms.

Analysts say the debate reflects a gap between political loyalty and constitutional agreement. Prof Eric Otieno argues that longer tenure cannot by itself guarantee better development outcomes, stressing that strong institutions and consistent policy matter more.

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