‘Say No to Greedy Leaders’ – Babu Owino Rejects Proposal to Extend Term Limits.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has voiced strong opposition to a recent proposal to extend term limits for elected officials from five to seven years, calling it a move to fulfill the selfish interests of “greedy leaders.”

In a statement shared on X, Owino urged Kenyans to reject the amendment bill, arguing that leaders should be able to fulfill their promises within the current five-year term. “We must reject any attempt to increase the term limit of Political Leaders to 7 years. What a leader cannot do in 5 years, they will certainly not accomplish in 7,” Owino stated.

Owino emphasized the challenges facing Kenyans and the need for leaders to prioritize citizens’ needs over personal gain. “Say no to greedy leaders who are after their selfish interests while Kenyans are (a) overtaxed, (b) unemployed, (c) facing a high cost of living, (d) unable to afford education, (e) struggling to access healthcare, and (f) suffering overall,” he added.

The bill, proposed by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, has stirred widespread reactions on social media, with many Kenyans calling for its rejection. As of Friday, over 200,000 emails had been sent to the Senate with comments on the proposal, causing a temporary system crash.

“Thank you for the overwhelming response on The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024. Due to high volumes of submissions, our email system has temporarily experienced issues,” the Senate announced. An alternate email was provided for submissions, and the deadline for public input has been extended to today, October 26, 2024, at 5 p.m.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to implement a series of reforms, including creating a Prime Minister’s office appointed by the President from the majority party in Parliament. It also aims to shift appointment and removal powers for various state officers to the Senate and National Assembly and proposes an increase in county resource allocation from 15% to 40%.

Other provisions in the bill involve procedural changes, such as clarifying the process for considering revenue bills in both Houses of Parliament and defining the powers of each chamber. Notably, the proposed extension of MPs’ terms has been met with heavy public scrutiny and opposition.

As debate continues, the Senate awaits further public input, while leaders like Babu Owino continue to rally against the proposal, framing it as an attempt to sideline the real issues facing ordinary Kenyans.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.