For the first time since President William Ruto took office, the Kenya Kwanza administration appears to be warming up to the idea of a national referendum, triggering fresh political debate across the country.
The renewed push gained momentum after Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda publicly endorsed calls for a referendum to remove presidential term limits, arguing that the Constitution should not block citizens from retaining leaders they believe are delivering results. Ojienda said constitutional amendments should be people-driven and debated openly, noting that democracy is protected more by strong institutions than rigid term limits.
“The Constitution is a living document. If Kenyans feel that leadership continuity serves their best interests, then they should be allowed to express that choice through a referendum,” Ojienda said.
His remarks now dovetail with recent calls by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, who has also spoken in favour of a referendum — albeit for different reasons. Mudavadi has argued that Kenya needs a referendum to address governance and structural issues within the Executive, including the legal standing, clarity, and entrenchment of key offices created after the 2022 elections. He has maintained that unresolved constitutional ambiguities continue to create tension and inefficiency within government.
While Mudavadi has avoided directly addressing presidential term limits, his calls have added weight to growing signals from within government that constitutional changes are now back on the table. This marks a sharp shift from the administration’s earlier stance, which downplayed the need for a referendum and instead emphasized economic recovery and fiscal reforms.
Political observers say the convergence of voices from both government insiders and allied lawmakers suggests that the Ruto administration may be quietly laying the groundwork for a broader constitutional review. Critics, however, argue that the sudden interest in a referendum raises questions about political self-interest and long-term implications for democracy.
Civil society groups and opposition leaders have already expressed concern, warning that reopening the Constitution could undermine hard-won safeguards such as presidential term limits.
As debate intensifies, it is increasingly clear that Kenya is entering a new phase of constitutional politics, with the government itself now at the center of the referendum conversation.