Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to learn from President Barack Obama’s legacy.
In a statement sent out after reports emerged that 70 Jubilee MPs had held a closed-door meeting without him, the Makueni legislator reminded Uhuru that there is honour in retirement.
“Obama and our President are age mates. The statement in Naivasha is not about age of the President , but a precursor for a Constitutional amendment,” Mutula stated.
“The President must refuse the overtures of being youthful and create a legacy of leaders leaving office gracefully,” he added.
The MPs from the Central Kenya region met in a closed-door meeting at Enashipai Resort & Spa, Naivasha reportedly to discuss the legacy of President Uhuru’s Big Four Agenda.
Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata is said to have raised the suggestion to amend the Constitution and create a position for the president to serve as Prime Minister after his term ends in 2022.
The issue sparked sharp reactions as most of the legislators rebuked it because they were generally disappointed by how Uhuru seemed to have abandoned the region in his development agenda.
On Monday, international media house CNN aired an interview of President Uhuru Kenyatta with senior business anchor Richard Quest who visited the country a week ago.
During the interview, Uhuru told Quest that he would not change the Constitution in order to run for a third term in 2022.
“I am not interested in a third term. People are talking about Constitutional change not necessarily because they desire the president to seek a third term but due to the issues that are related to the cost of running the new constitution,” the Head of State explained.
The leaders from Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nairobi, Nakuru and Laikipia counties decried that during the campaigns, they had promised development projects to their supporters, most of which are yet to be implemented.
“The President has instead suspended all the development projects in this financial year and the electorate is turning against us,” regretted the lawmaker.
They accused the executive of shortchanging them despite the immense support the president enjoyed from their constituents.
The Parliamentarians resolved to meet President Uhuru on Thursday to formally present him with their concerns when he visits Karatina to the open-air market.