In Kenya, senator sponsors constitutional amendment to bar former governors from running for new electoral offices for five years post-term

Former Governors who have served their full term could be barred from vying for elective seats for a period of five years if an amendment seeking to amend the constitution sails through. Nominated Senator Chimera Mwinzagu has sponsored the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2023 intending to amend the Constitution to exclude a person who has served as a County governor from eyeing the position of Senator, MP or Member of the County Assembly (MCA). He seeks to amend Article 180 of the Constitution to bar former governors who have served two constitutional terms from holding the elective posts citing conflict of interest. The Nominated Senator holds that the accountability process conducted after the term of a Governor run into the subsequent elective term before they are concluded. Hence, when a former county boss is elected to Parliament or County assemblies which are oversight bodies it undermines the accountability process. Chimera expresses that the five-year period to bar governors from vying will ensure they are given clean bill of health before seeking any elective slots other than the Office of President. [...] The amendment bill is currently before the Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, for prepublication scrutiny. The Committee will then present its comments to the Speaker within 14 days of the referral of the legislative proposal.
Read the full article here: All Africa