Francis Atwoli Advocates for Removal of Presidential Term Limits, Predicts Ruto’s 2027 Victory
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called for the abolition of presidential term limits while confidently predicting President William Ruto’s victory in the 2027 General Elections. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Atwoli revived the controversial debate, proposing an extension of the presidential term from the current five years to seven.
“Let us remove the term limit. This is what is causing us problems. Somebody is timing after 10 years, saying, ‘I want to be president.’ Are Ugandans experiencing the same problems we experience here?” Atwoli remarked, referencing Uganda’s constitutional amendments that have removed such restrictions.
Atwoli further criticized the political landscape in Kenya, accusing politicians of turning politics into an “industry.” He argued that term limits fuel endless political maneuvering, saying, “Every morning is politics from morning to evening because they know James’ term is almost ending.”
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This isn’t the first time the issue of extending presidential terms has surfaced. Recently, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Senator Samson Cherargei proposed a constitutional amendment to extend the presidential term—and those of other elected officials—from five to seven years. While the proposal was rejected by President Ruto and other lawmakers, the debate remains active.
Cherargei had argued that seven years would give presidents sufficient time to deliver on their manifestos, citing that the first two years of a presidency are typically spent establishing the government. However, critics dismissed the proposal as an attempt to undermine democracy.
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Atwoli’s remarks echo sentiments seen in Uganda, where term limits were removed in 2005, and age limits for presidential candidates were abolished in 2017, allowing President Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. Atwoli claimed that these changes have brought stability to Uganda, adding that Kenya could learn from its neighbor.
Meanwhile, Atwoli dismissed Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah’s potential presidential ambitions, advising him to focus on building alliances and financial preparation for the future.
Confident in his predictions, Atwoli asserted, “With the trajectory President Ruto is taking, I can tell you here and now—he will be president by 10 am in 2027.”
The remarks have reignited public debate, with critics warning of the risks of undermining democratic principles, while supporters argue for a reconsideration of Kenya’s governance structure.
