President William Ruto has moved to silence a growing political storm regarding his presidential tenure, stating plainly that the nation’s top job is too demanding to hold beyond the constitutional limit. “Am I crazy? People think this job of being president is an easy one of being yelled at every day,” he remarked, directly addressing the speculation.

The President’s clarification, delivered at a security forum at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, aims to quell a debate that threatens to distract from his administration's agenda. The controversy reignited after Ruto himself mused about the country's transformation if his development projects continued for two decades, a comment some interpreted as a desire to extend his rule.

This narrative was further fueled by public remarks from industrialist Narendra Raval, who recently suggested Ruto should remain in office for 20 years to ensure economic stability. However, the President was clear that his 20-year vision was for Kenya's development into a first-world nation, not for his own political longevity.

A Pattern of Proposals

The debate over term limits is not new and has been consistently stoked by some of the President's allies. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has been a particularly vocal proponent, having tabled a controversial bill to extend the presidential term from five to seven years. That proposal was met with overwhelming public opposition, with the Senate receiving over 121,000 written submissions from Kenyans rejecting the idea.

Previously, Fafi MP Yakub Salah had also floated the idea of scrapping the two-term limit entirely, a move that was swiftly disowned by the ruling UDA party. These repeated suggestions from the President's camp have created a climate of uncertainty, forcing him to clarify his position on multiple occasions. In November 2022, he assured his party's MPs he would not support any effort to “mutilate the Constitution for parochial, selfish, and personal interests.”

The Kenyan Perspective

For many Kenyans, the discussion around term limits is a sensitive issue tied directly to democratic health and stability. Strong public sentiment favors the current constitutional arrangement. A recent Afrobarometer survey found that an overwhelming 86% of Kenyans support maintaining the two-term presidential limit. This safeguard is seen as crucial for ensuring peaceful transitions of power, a cornerstone of the 2010 Constitution.

Analysts note that persistent talk of term extensions, even if dismissed by the President, can undermine investor confidence and divert focus from pressing national issues like the cost of living and job creation. The conversation shifts from delivering on the current mandate to debating the rules of the next election, a distraction many citizens can ill afford.

President Ruto emphasized he is committed to fulfilling his duties within the constitutional framework and looks forward to the day he hands over power. “I am waiting for the day when I can leave the office and shift the responsibility to someone else,” he stated, framing his role as a temporary stewardship, not a permanent post.