Deputy President William Ruto has yet again shown reservation on the much hyped constitutional changes, with the proposed 7-year single term presidential term limit being the center of controversy.
While Dr Ruto has not come out clear on the proposed changes, he has however maintained that the changes should be people centered for them to succeed in a referendum.
"The talk around the referendum should be carried out in an objective manner, devoid of deceit and done for the interest of all Kenyans, not for selfish interests," he said on Sunday.
His allies led by Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali, dismissed Punguza Mizigo initiative, which has given the proposal to narrow term limits to just seven years.
“I had an intention of supporting Punguza Mizigo, but there is one proposal that I do not agree with. Kenya will be holding many separate elections. This will not reduce our wage bill at all,” said Washiali.
Senator Margaret Kamar said on Sunday that the seven-year single term limit will breed dictators, adding that such proposal should be opposed.
“What if one day we elect a leader who turns out to be a dictatorial President? We only want five-year term limits for Kenyan presidents,” said Kamar.
The Bill seeks to narrow down the limit from two terms of five years each to seven, a move that could also lead to the country holding numerous elections, one after the other.
"The proposed one seven-year term limit will end the “do or die” culture of re-election. There is an established violence trend in all our electoral cycles when the incumbent seeks re-election," the Bill states.
"There is accelerated theft of public money in the last two years of a first term presidency because of the need to finance re-election," it adds.