Fake News: Senate Dismisses Reports That New Bill Seeks to Extend Presidential Term Limits

The Kenyan Senate has moved swiftly to counter widespread misinformation surrounding the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, categorically denying claims that the proposed legislation seeks to extend presidential term limits or create new executive positions.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Senate Speaker Amason Jeffah Kingi’s office addressed what it described as deliberate misrepresentation of the bill’s contents, which had been circulating extensively across social media platforms.

The Senate stamped circulating posters with bold red “FAKE” warnings to alert the public about the misleading information.

The controversy erupted after a fraudulent document labeled “Senate Bills 2024” and dated August 30, 2024, began circulating on social media platforms, falsely claiming the bill proposed extending presidential, gubernatorial, parliamentary, and county assembly terms from five to seven years.

The fake document also alleged the creation of a Prime Minister’s office to be appointed by the President.

These false claims triggered sharp reactions from prominent figures, including human rights activist Hussein Khalid, who declared “It’s back to the streets again,” and lawyer Willis Otieno, who argued that such proposals would be fundamentally unconstitutional.

Otieno contended that Article 1 of the Constitution vests sovereignty in the people, who have expressly limited elected office terms to five years under various constitutional articles.

However, the Senate firmly rejected these assertions, stating that “nowhere in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is there any proposal to extend the terms of office for the President, Governors, MPs, or MCAs from five to seven years.”

The institution emphasized that the bill does not amend constitutional articles dealing with term limits for any elective positions.

Similarly, the Senate dismissed speculation about creating a Prime Minister’s office, clarifying that “the bill makes no mention of creating the Office of the Prime Minister or any other new position within the executive branch.”

Instead, the Senate explained that the bill’s primary focus is strengthening devolution and reinforcing bicameralism within Parliament.

The proposed amendments aim to grant the Senate an equal role with the National Assembly in the legislative process, ensuring most bills must be considered and passed by both houses.

Key provisions include giving the Senate a direct role in budget-making processes and oversight of public finances, including participation in approving state officers such as the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General.

The bill also proposes establishing a constitutionally protected County Assembly Fund to safeguard the financial independence of county legislatures.

The Senate’s clarification comes at a time when public trust in institutions faces significant challenges, with the statement serving both as a rebuttal to misinformation and an appeal for fact-based national discourse.

The institution emphasized the importance of verifying information before sharing, noting that “this Bill focuses on fixing procedural issues in Parliament to better support county governments, not on altering term limits or the structure of the executive.”

This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in Kenya’s political landscape, where false claims about constitutional amendments often generate public tension and political controversy.

The Senate’s proactive response demonstrates the need for institutions to actively counter fake news to maintain public trust and ensure informed democratic participation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​