New Proposed Law To Bar Final Term Governors From 2027 Polls
New Proposed Law To Bar Final Term Governors From 2027 Polls
If the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2023, is passed, incumbent and past governors will be barred from running for Members of County Assembly (MCA) or Senate seats.
This will be accomplished by modifying both the Kenyan Constitution and the Elections Act so that every qualified Kenyan has an equal opportunity to run for elected office.
“The amendments seek to bar sitting Governors and former Governors from vying for Senate or County Assemblies for the first 5 years after serving as Governors,” Senators and Governors remarked after the meeting.
During the discussion, Senators agreed to review all parties’ submissions and produce a report for the House to consider.
While preparing the Bill, Senator Chimera Raphael emphasized that county governors must account to the county assembly and the Senate for all budgetary and administrative actions.
This includes reacting to issues raised by the Office of the Auditor General during the preparation of yearly audits.
“Barring former county governors from vying for elections will allow for any ongoing accountability processes related to administration and financial management affairs of the county to be completed, as these would have a bearing on the suitability of the former county governor to hold any other elective position,” the Bill reads in part.
Senator Chimera also contends that because the Senate and county assemblies directly oversee county governments by reviewing audit reports and holding governors accountable for their decisions, having former governors serve in the two legislatures would create a conflict of interest and interfere with their decision-making process.
The Bill’s purpose will therefore be to allow County Assemblies and the Senate to investigate any issues stemming from the reign of a previous county governor without intervention from the former county governor.
Furthermore, because all accountability processes have been completed, voters will have a reference point to make an informed decision on the candidate’s suitability for another elective post.
Some of the governors who will be affected by this law if it goes into force include Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), and Julius Malombe (Kitui).
New Proposed Law To Bar Final Term Governors From 2027 Polls
