Hon By Musalia Mudavadi
Uhuru wants to remove 10-year presidential term limit
I wish to express my deep concern at the president’s recent behaviour and unbecoming pronouncements.
The outrageous remarks by President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday betray a streak of authoritarianism that would only happen in Kenya under an imperial presidency. Only in bygone days of Emperor Jean Baptiste Bokassa of the Central Africa Republic or under the dictatorship of Nguema of Equatorial Guinea would such display of hubris the president’s daily summon.
Kenyans have a right to be worried that a person holding incumbency as caretaker of the Presidency of the Republic and is seeking the re-confirmation in position of president holds the same office, the country and the people of Kenya with utter contempt. And he does it wantonly and with extreme prejudice.
Such impunity usually heralds deadly State contravention of political and civic rights. The arrest of Johnston Muthama should be seen as a trial balloon for intended immense violation of human rights.
But it is not the raving of the president that should worry Kenyans. Hat is part of his persona.
First, Uhuru has predefined the outcome of the October 17 election where Rail Odinga will emerge the winner. In his own words, Uhuru has announced plotting an illegal coup through Parliament after losing the election. This is not only a violation of the Oath of Office he took but also a criminal intent to disrupt the proper working of government when Uhuru losses the elections as he himself had predetermined.
It is extreme incitement to disorder that an incumbent president, even though afraid after determining he is losing, shouldn’t utter seditious intent while holding temporary the Office of the President of Kenya. It is therefore Uhuru who should be impeached NOW for absconding duty and inciting Kenyans against a duly elected government after October 17.
Second, Uhuru has promised Kenyans that he plans to change the Constitution unilaterally through Parliament. To what end and to whose benefit? It is obvious Uhuru desires an imperial presidency that will jell with his unruly character. The change Uhuru desires is to remove the 10-year term limit to the presidency. That is the obvious truth. The hidden agenda is that a life presidency for Uhuru translates into reneging on promises to support the likes of William Ruto in 2022.
Kenyans must therefore decide whether they want a return to the imperial President-for-Life under Uhuru or safeguarding the democratic freedoms under Raila.
Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH
Chairman, NASA National Campaign Committee and ANC Party Leader
