A Senate committee has endorsed a Constitutional amendment bill that aims to prevent Governors from immediately contesting elections after the conclusion of their terms.
Chaired by Bomet lawmaker Hillary Sigei, the Senate Legal, Justice, and Human Rights Committee have given the bill the green light to proceed for processing and debate on the Senate floor.
The bill, sponsored by nominated Senator Chimera Mwinzagu, seeks to impose a five-year hiatus on former county governors from running for positions such as Senator or Member of the County Assembly.
This interval allows ongoing accountability processes related to county administration and financial management affairs to conclude.
According to the proposal, this cooling-off period would ensure that former governors are not immediately eligible for other elective positions, thereby eliminating potential conflicts of interest and allowing oversight bodies sufficient time to investigate any issues arising from their tenure.
If passed, the bill stipulates that individuals who have served as county governors cannot be elected as senators or county assembly members within the first five years after the end of their term.
The committee argues that the right to be a candidate for public office is not absolute, citing existing constitutional provisions that disqualify individuals from running for certain offices.
Support for the amendment came from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which viewed the restriction as a reasonable measure to prevent conflicts of interest and abuse of power.
However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) opposed the bill, arguing that it encroaches on broader constitutional provisions and violates Article 255 of the Constitution.
