NAIROBI, Kenya – Long-serving Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has ignited fresh controversy with his call to abolish presidential term limits in Kenya.
Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, Atwoli argued that term limits foster a culture of perpetual politicking, hindering governance and development.
“If you asked me as Francis Atwoli, I’d tell you, let us remove term limits. Why? This is what is causing us problems. Somebody is timing, after 10 years, I want to be president,” Atwoli said during an appearance on JKL.
Atwoli claimed that the competitive race to succeed sitting presidents leads to continuous political campaigns that distract from national priorities.
He pointed to countries like Uganda, which have removed term limits, as examples of nations with fewer political disruptions.
“Are Ugandans experiencing the same problems we experience here? People have made politics an industry – politics every morning to evening – because they know Jeff’s term, for example, is almost ending,” he noted.
Atwoli also took a swipe at Western nations, accusing them of imposing systems that they do not practice themselves.
Citing monarchies in Europe, he highlighted the contrast between those nations’ stable governance structures and Africa’s regular election cycles, which he says are riddled with challenges.
“These countries encourage us to hold elections every five years, yet they don’t have them. They respect their traditions and laws,” he said.
Atwoli’s remarks come shortly after his call for a review of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution. He argued that the current framework makes it difficult for the government to implement major development projects, as court interventions often stall initiatives.
“We will help you, but the battle you have is big. The first battle is to help us change the Constitution of Kenya. The President wants to bring us a project, people are running to court, they are stopping it, yet it is a national project,” he said, referring to President William Ruto.
The outspoken trade unionist warned that without constitutional amendments, Kenya’s leaders risk completing their terms with little to show in terms of tangible development.
Atwoli’s stance is expected to reignite debates around governance and democracy in Kenya.
While his supporters may see the proposal as a pragmatic approach to stabilizing leadership, critics are likely to view it as a threat to democratic accountability.
Kenya’s presidential term limits were introduced in the Constitution of 2010, limiting presidents to two five-year terms in office.
The provision was widely celebrated as a safeguard against authoritarianism.
Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, Atwoli argued that term limits foster a culture of perpetual politicking, hindering governance and development.
“If you asked me as Francis Atwoli, I’d tell you, let us remove term limits. Why? This is what is causing us problems. Somebody is timing, after 10 years, I want to be president,” Atwoli said during an appearance on JKL.
Atwoli claimed that the competitive race to succeed sitting presidents leads to continuous political campaigns that distract from national priorities.
He pointed to countries like Uganda, which have removed term limits, as examples of nations with fewer political disruptions.
“Are Ugandans experiencing the same problems we experience here? People have made politics an industry – politics every morning to evening – because they know Jeff’s term, for example, is almost ending,” he noted.
Atwoli also took a swipe at Western nations, accusing them of imposing systems that they do not practice themselves.
Citing monarchies in Europe, he highlighted the contrast between those nations’ stable governance structures and Africa’s regular election cycles, which he says are riddled with challenges.
“These countries encourage us to hold elections every five years, yet they don’t have them. They respect their traditions and laws,” he said.
Atwoli’s remarks come shortly after his call for a review of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution. He argued that the current framework makes it difficult for the government to implement major development projects, as court interventions often stall initiatives.
“We will help you, but the battle you have is big. The first battle is to help us change the Constitution of Kenya. The President wants to bring us a project, people are running to court, they are stopping it, yet it is a national project,” he said, referring to President William Ruto.
The outspoken trade unionist warned that without constitutional amendments, Kenya’s leaders risk completing their terms with little to show in terms of tangible development.
Atwoli’s stance is expected to reignite debates around governance and democracy in Kenya.
While his supporters may see the proposal as a pragmatic approach to stabilizing leadership, critics are likely to view it as a threat to democratic accountability.
Kenya’s presidential term limits were introduced in the Constitution of 2010, limiting presidents to two five-year terms in office.
The provision was widely celebrated as a safeguard against authoritarianism.
