In recent developments, the Senate of Kenya has acknowledged that it is grappling with technical issues related to its email system. This situation has arisen in the wake of a significant influx of submissions from concerned Kenyans regarding the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2024.
This controversial bill, introduced by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, seeks to extend the term limits for key political offices—including the Presidency, Governorships, and parliamentary positions—from the current five years to seven. As the public participation phase continues, Kenyans have until Friday, October 25, to share their views. Citizens can submit their opinions through hand-delivery at the Senate Clerk’s Office or through email.
Currently, a public forum is underway at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, where citizens have the opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed legislation. However, the bill has come under heavy scrutiny; many individuals have voiced frustration, claiming the government is failing to adequately address their concerns.
The Senate received over 200,000 submissions, reaching the maximum capacity of the allocated email addresses
said the Senate
In an official statement, the Senate thanked citizens for their overwhelming response to The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2024, while also noting,
“Our email system is currently experiencing technical difficulties due to the high volume of submissions.”
This acknowledgment came after numerous Kenyans took to social media to express their discontent over the inability to submit their feedback effectively.Many shared messages indicating that their attempts to communicate via email had been blocked, citing notifications that read,
“Your message to senatejlahrc@parliament.go.ke has been blocked. See technical details below for more information.”
These incidents have sparked speculation among the public, with some citizens questioning whether there might be an intentional effort by the government to limit public involvement in the legislative process.
As the situation unfolds, the eyes of a nation remain fixated on how the Senate will address these concerns and whether genuine dialogue will be achieved before the deadlines loom. Kenyans are encouraged to remain active and vocal during this critical period—in democracy, every voice matters, and the power of public participation cannot be underestimated.
