Governors Relieved As Bill Seeking To Block Them from Running For MP, MCA Seats Withdrawn

NAIROBI, Kenya – Governors have welcomed the withdrawal of a controversial bill that sought to bar them from running for parliamentary or county assembly seats for five years after completing their terms.

Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera, who sponsored the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2023, formally withdrew the proposal in the Senate on Tuesday, citing the need for broader consultations.

The bill had sparked unrest among county chiefs, particularly those nearing the end of their second and final terms in office.

“I rise to withdraw the Constitutional of Kenya (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (Senate Bills No.52 of 2023),” Chimera announced during the second reading.

He explained that he had written to Speaker Amason Kingi, detailing his reasons for withdrawal, although he did not publicly disclose them.

The bill aimed to amend Article 180 of the Constitution to bar outgoing governors from running for Member of Parliament or County Assembly seats immediately after leaving office.

Chimera argued that the accountability processes tied to a governor’s term, particularly those involving financial and administrative decisions, often extend beyond their tenure.

He said the bill was designed to give oversight bodies, such as the Senate and county assemblies, adequate time to review these matters before a former governor could contest another seat.

“Governors exercise significant executive authority, and their actions must be scrutinized after their terms. Preventing them from immediately seeking other elective positions would enhance accountability and the rule of law,” Chimera argued in support of the bill.

The bill had proposed a five-year cooling-off period, during which former governors would be ineligible for parliamentary or county assembly positions, giving oversight bodies time to investigate their tenure.

Some 19 governors are currently serving their final terms, and several are expected to run for parliamentary seats in 2027.

In the last election, two former governors—Ali Roba of Mandera and Jackson Mandago of Uasin Gishu—were successfully elected to the Senate.

However, they were barred from participating in Senate committee hearings on audit queries related to their tenure as governors.

Chimera’s bill had echoed a similar proposal made by former Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito, who had sought to bar governors from running for President, MP, or MCA positions after completing their terms. That bill also failed to gain traction in Parliament.