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10 years: Homa Bay group wants Presidential term limit extended

Currently, the president serves for a term of five years with a maximum of two terms

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by LINDWE DANFLOW

News02 October 2023 - 09:09
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In Summary


  • The team, Homa Bay Interface Community, also said there is need to abolish the national tallying centre and have the electoral colleges established.
  • The group questioned why is it that after elections of other cadres, leaders rush to Bomas of Kenya.
The Secretary General of the Homa Bay Interface Organization Micheal Otieno speaks to the National Dialogue Committee on October 2,2023.

A group representing a section of residents of Homa Bay County want the Presidential term to be extended to a single term of 10 years.

Currently, the president serves for a term of five years with a maximum of two terms in office.

"For us we want the president to serve for only 10 years and after that, they go home with their deputy," said the group led by the secretary general Michael Otieno.

The team, Homa Bay Interface Community, also said there is a need to abolish the national tallying centre and have the electoral colleges established.

The group spoke when it appeared before the National Dialogue Committee which is collecting public views at the Bomas of Kenya.

The group questioned why is it that after elections of other cadres, leaders rush to Bomas of Kenya.

"The problem is at the national tallying centres, not at the polling stations. What we need is a polling station tallying centre," said Otieno.

The group said it proposes that youth representatives and representatives of persons with disabilities be elected alongside woman representatives.

On the impeachment of the president, the group said the powers should not be vested in Parliament but Kenyans to decide.

"It is the people who should decide; why is it that when it comes to the impeachment of the president it goes to Parliament and not to the people yet we have a presidential system?" he posed.

The group added that it should be the case for governors at the counties during motions for removal from office.

"It should not be that MCAs are the ones recalling a governor, that should be the work of th citizens," Otieno said.

On fidelity to the political parties, the group said that it already provides for the constitution and the Political Parties Fund.

The group said that the Higher Education Loans Fund should be entrenched in the constitution so that no Kenyan is left behind.

In enhancing access to education, the group said the fund should not be available to government employees who are already earning salaries when seeking further studies.

"There is a need for the funding model to be the same across all universities," the group said.

On graft, the group proposes that any person charged with corruption, should be remanded and their assets are convicted.

He said that the current provision for bond and bail has given suspects opportunities to 'buy justice" after being released.

On the entrenchment of the office of opposition, the group said that should be anchored in an Act of Parliament

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