Cherargei Revives 14-Year Presidency Debate as He Warns Ruto Rivals

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has reignited debate over Kenya’s presidential term limits after invoking “kumi na nne supuu” while campaigning for President William Ruto during a North Rift development tour. His remarks on Monday, October 12, appeared to suggest that opposition leaders should prepare for a longer period of Kenya Kwanza rule if they fail to organise ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Cherargei urged Ruto’s political rivals to look beyond the next election and begin thinking about 2032. He added that if they failed to organise themselves, he would return to his call for a 14-year presidency.

What Cherargei Means by “Kumi na Nne”

The phrase “kumi na nne” means fourteen, and Cherargei has previously linked it to his proposal to increase presidential terms from five years to seven. Under that proposal, a president serving two seven-year terms would remain in office for a total of 14 years.

Cherargei first advanced the idea in 2023, arguing that longer terms would give elected leaders more time to implement their development plans. In 2024, he sponsored a constitutional amendment bill seeking to increase the terms of the President, MPs, senators, governors and Members of County Assemblies from five years to seven.

However, the proposal faced overwhelming opposition during public participation. A Senate committee reported that 99.99 per cent of the 168,801 submissions it received opposed the bill, and recommended that it be rejected. <Cite refs={["turn193200search0","turn193200search1"]}/>

The proposal does not change the current Constitution, which provides for five-year presidential terms and a maximum of two terms. Any extension would require constitutional changes to be made through the legally prescribed process.

Senator Takes Aim at Edwin Sifuna

During the same North Rift tour, Cherargei also directed criticism at Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. He referred to Sifuna as “Mr Empty” and challenged him to face him in a direct political contest.

Cherargei further accused opposition leaders of lacking a clear agenda, contrasting their political messaging with the government’s development priorities. His remarks came as political figures continued positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sifuna has remained a prominent figure in opposition politics following his departure from the ODM secretary-general position. Cherargei’s comments add another exchange to the increasingly active political debate ahead of the next General Election.

Term Limits Remain a Contested Issue

Cherargei’s latest remarks have brought his earlier proposal back into public discussion, even though the previous bill faced strong resistance. The Senate committee’s findings showed that the proposed extension had attracted substantial opposition from Kenyans who participated in the consultation process.

For now, the presidential term remains five years, subject to the constitutional two-term limit. Cherargei’s comments are political statements and do not, by themselves, extend President Ruto’s tenure or alter the date of the next election.