The Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has asked the Senate not to pass the Bill proposing an extension of the term of the President and other elected leaders
In its report, the committee noted that stakeholders and members of the public who presented written and oral submissions to the committee were overwhelmingly in opposition to the Bill sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.
“This was particularly on the provisions relating to the proposed extension of terms of the President, Members of Parliament, and Governors and Members of County assemblies from five to seven years, as well as the proposed introduction of the position of Prime Minister,” the report said.
The committee chaired by Hillary Wakili (Bomet) observed that there should be a sieving mechanism for vetting and approving Bills to amend the Constitution before they are introduced in either House of Parliament and subjected to public participation as in the present case.
“This is to ensure that there is a reasonable level of support for the proposals both among members of the public as well as Members of Parliament who would be required to consider and vote on the Bill,” the committee said in its report.
The committee recommended that the Procedure and Rules Committee of the Senate review the procedure for consideration of a legislative proposal to amend the Constitution.
It said there should be a requirement that such a proposal be accompanied by the signatures of at least 15 other Senators in support unless it is sponsored by the Majority Party or the Minority Party.
It added that there should be a framework for debate and collation of the views of senators on the legislative proposal before its approval for publication.
Kenyans got the opportunity to give their views on a proposal to extend the term of office of the President and other elected leaders at a public hearing after initially sending written submissions.
The Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Senate scheduled public hearings at the KICC last Friday, the last day Kenyans were to give their views.
Hundreds of Kenyans took part in the exercise, the majority of whom expressed opposition to the plan
This came even as the Senate's email system for submission of views crashed after over 240,000 messages were received.
The proposal to extend the term of President and other elected leaders from five to seven years has been met with outrage, with the majority terming the plan as unreasonable.