Please end presidential term extension talk

President Uhuru Kenyatta's declaration that he will not run for elective office in 2022 should put to rest speculation and clamour to have him hang on after completing his two terms.

The pronouncement comes at a time of intensified campaigns for constitutional review and contest for the presidency even when the election is two years away. The presidential term limit is also predicated on the practice of good governance and democracy. World over, nations set presidential term limits to guard against political decadence.

Yet some political wheeler dealers have taken up a crusade to get Mr Kenyatta either stay in office or seek another top position, which propositions require changing the Constitution and in this regard, to achieve extremely selfish goals. Leading the campaign is Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli, whose perverted reasoning is that Mr Kenyatta is still young and should not retire.

Tied to this thinking is that the Building Bridge Initiative should make provisions that expunge the presidential term limit. Clearly, this is objectionable.

Democracy

The reason for capping the presidential term is to avoid monopoly and appropriation of state power by a few individuals. Past experience demonstrated the folly of unlimited presidential tenure, with political oppression, plunder, negative ethnicity and personalisation of the State.

Democracy is about giving everyone a fair chance at public office through a transparent, competitive electoral process. Those ascending to such offices must be held accountable.

 The discourse about constitutional change should address issues that deepen democracy and empower citizens. We abhor discussions about reconfiguring government to create positions to benefit few individuals through power sharing deals.

Let Mr Kenyatta exit the scene when his time comes.