Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale now says the bid to extend the presidential term from the current five years to seven years will be unsuccessful.
Duale assured Kenyans that there is no need to worry over the Bill, which has been raised by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.
The Bill also covers term-limit extension for MCAs, MPs, governors and senators, by amending sections 101,177 and 180 of the constitution.
Commenting on the Bill on Wednesday evening during an interview with Citizen TV, Duale expressed confidence a majority of the legislatures will not support it.
“Don’t worry. It will not even see the light of the day in the first reading in the Senate. It is like driving at Thika Superhighway with faulty breaks. That is not something that should worry Kenyans,” he assured.
Duale pointed out that to pass the bill, there is a need for a referendum, stating that Cherargei needs two-thirds in the Senate and in the National Assembly.
“He won’t even get 10 people,” the former MP said.
Duale made it clear that the United Democratic Alliance party is not party to the bill.
“Our party has made its position very clear. The President has made it very clear. In our party, nobody curtails the freedom of another. An MP and a Senator have rights enshrined in the constitution,” he said.
He said the bill should not be a thorn to Kenyans.
Duale said Cherargei must convince the Parliament and Kenyans why he wants to extend to seven years.
The CS urged the lawmakers to only deal with bills that are of value to Kenyans and those that are consistent with the constitution.
He cautioned those drafting bills to look for those which will enhance the government and people’s agenda instead of “wanting to become a publicist”.
Duale affirmed that no one is ready for a seven-year term limit.
His statement comes shortly after Cherargei claimed that 60 per cent of Kenyans are in support of his Bill.
He told the Senate that he had received 12,000 texts and 20,000 WhatsApp messages as well as thousands of phone calls in the last week as Kenyans praised his move while others abused him.
“Senate has so far received 500, 000 emails reacting to my Bill. As of now, 60 per cent of Kenyans are supporting my Bill and 40 per cent are opposing,” Cherargei added.
So far, a section of MPs allied to Kenya Kwanza have declared that the Bill does have the support of the President or their party.
In the Bill, Cherargei also proposes the creation of the Office of the Prime Minister and if it passes, will also grant the Senate the power to vet Cabinet Secretaries, among other State officials.
