Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei recently asserted that most Kenyans support his proposed bill to extend elected officials’ terms from five to seven years.
Speaking at a Senate session, Cherargei said that around 60% of Kenyans who participated in the public feedback phase favored the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, while 40% opposed it.
He claimed nearly 500,000 Kenyans had submitted their views, including feedback, through the Senate’s email.
However, his statement sparked skepticism among other senators, who questioned the validity of the data. Cherargei explained that he had personally experienced privacy issues, with his phone inundated with over 12,000 text messages, 20,000 WhatsApp messages, and numerous calls from the public, some containing insults and others expressing support.
He voiced concerns about data privacy, noting that the excessive communications impacted him personally.
The senator also raised broader privacy concerns, referencing reports that law enforcement agencies accessed call records of Kenyans to track down individuals involved in anti-government protests.
According to a report by Daily Nation, police obtained sensitive data from telecom companies, sparking public concerns about data security. Cherargei urged the Senate’s Committee of National Security to investigate further by summoning Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja for clarification.
He condemned telecoms' reported sharing of location data, insisting such actions infringe on the public’s right to privacy and should require a court order.
In calling for accountability, Cherargei expressed disappointment over alleged privacy breaches and underscored the importance of safeguarding Kenyans’ data.
