On Monday, April 15, senators and governors convened to deliberate on proposed legislation aimed at barring two-term governors from running for certain elected positions in the 2027 general election.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023, if ratified, will prevent current and former governors from seeking candidacy for Members of County Assembly (MCA) or Senate seats.
This initiative involves amendments to both the Kenyan Constitution and the Elections Act, with the goal of promoting equal opportunities for all eligible Kenyans to participate in public office contests.
The proposed amendments seek to prevent incumbent and former governors from seeking election to the Senate or County Assemblies for the initial five years following the conclusion of their terms. Senators and Governors confirmed this stance following their meeting.
In the course of the deliberations, Senators committed to examining submissions from all parties involved and generating a comprehensive report for further consideration by the House.
Highlighting the significance of the proposed Bill, Senator Chimera Raphael stressed the necessity for county governors to be held accountable to both the county assembly and the Senate for all financial and administrative decisions.
This also entails addressing concerns raised by the Office of the Auditor General during the annual audit process.
Among the governors who would be impacted by this legislation if enacted include Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), and Julius Malombe (Kitui).
