UDA Party Distances Itself from MP Salah Yakub's Proposal to Scrap the Two-term Presidential Limit

President Ruto-led UDA party has distanced itself from the proposal by Fafi MP Salah Yakub to scrap the two-term presidential limit and replace it with an age limit of 75 years.

Through social media, the party clarified that there was no plan to remove the presidential limit, terming Yakub’s proposal as “a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator.”

“Remarks by Fafi MP Salah Yakub that there are plans to extend term limits for the president are a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator. UDA distances itself from the utterances by the MP. The Party has not been part of discussions in regard to term limits. The party is busy implementing The Plan and will not be part of sideshows,” UDA wrote on Twitter.

Yakub had earlier claimed that he and other UDA MPs were working on a constitutional amendment Bill to scrap the two-term presidential limit, arguing that it denies performing leaders an opportunity to further develop the country.

"I, together with some of my fellow MPs, are planning to push a Bill in Parliament that contests the two terms of serving as president," he said. 

"We also want that no one should contest for the presidency once they are 75 years old. The terms of the presidency should not be limited to two terms, three terms, or even four. If the president is doing a good job he should extend his term," he added.

The UDA MP said the country cannot afford to repeat the same mistake it did in the past when it allowed former President Mwai Kibaki to leave office yet he was a progressive leader.

"He left office without accomplishing all his programs because of the Constitution which allowed him to serve for only two terms," he said.

Such a bill would give the current president, 55, leeway for re-election for up to three terms in 2027, 2032, and 2037.