Angry Kenyans’ comments crash Senate email address

The email address designated for public comments on proposed legislation in Kenya’s Senate has collapsed under the weight of a massive influx of responses to a contentious bill aimed at extending the terms of office for key political leaders. This proposed legislation seeks to extend the terms for the president, county governors, and members of Parliament from five to seven years, along with several other constitutional amendments.

The public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, prompting widespread mobilization on social media platforms. According to a post on the Senate’s X account, the upper house received over 200,000 submissions, which exceeded the email system’s capacity. While the bill was introduced by Senator Samson Cherargei, the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has distanced itself from the proposal. UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar characterized the bill as “repugnant and backward,” reflecting the party’s disassociation from the controversial initiative.

In defense of the bill, Cherargei argued that extending the terms to seven years would provide adequate time for elected officials to fulfill their promises and deliver on their pledges. The public was given until Friday to submit their opinions on the matter, but the intense backlash quickly became evident.

Sources within the parliament revealed to The Star newspaper that emails were being sent at a rapid pace, with no previous bill generating such a high volume of responses. Acknowledging the overwhelming public engagement, the Senate communicated that their email system had “temporarily experienced issues” due to the high volume of submissions and subsequently provided an alternative email address for continued public input.

Beyond increasing term lengths, the proposed legislation also aims to establish the role of prime minister and boost funding for county administrations. A Senate committee is now tasked with evaluating the public responses to the bill.

This proposed legislation comes at a precarious time for Kenyan lawmakers, who are currently under significant scrutiny from the public, especially as citizens grapple with the rising cost of living. The situation has been further exacerbated by a series of protests that began in June against tax hikes, which turned violent and resulted in at least 40 fatalities. In the wake of these events, President William Ruto reversed some of his tax proposals in an attempt to quell public unrest and included opposition members in his cabinet to foster a sense of unity.

Despite these measures, there remains a pervasive cynicism towards politicians, especially regarding anything perceived as extending their power. The push for longer terms is particularly sensitive given Kenya’s political history, and public sentiment reflects a deep mistrust of politicians’ intentions.

This is not the first time there has been an attempt to alter the two-term limit on the presidency since Ruto took office in 2022. Two years ago, a ruling party MP proposed replacing the two-term limit with an age cap of 75 years. However, that proposal was quickly met with public outrage and ultimately failed to gain traction.

President Ruto has previously dismissed attempts to abolish term limits, labeling such efforts as “unnecessary and an exercise in futility.” His administration’s current proposal, however, indicates that discussions around extending political terms are far from over.

As the Senate committee prepares to review the public responses to the bill, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will navigate the prevailing public sentiment and whether they will heed the calls for accountability and transparency. The fallout from this incident may set the stage for ongoing discussions about governance and political reform in Kenya, highlighting the delicate balance between the demands of leadership and the expectations of the electorate.

As Kenyans continue to voice their concerns, the significance of civic engagement in shaping legislative outcomes has never been more apparent. The crash of the Senate’s email system serves as a testament to the power of public opinion in the political landscape, indicating that citizens are unwilling to remain silent in the face of potential changes that could affect their democratic rights.