A fresh attempt to bar governors from joining the Senate for five years after leaving office is being considered in Parliament.
The latest push by Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi is part of a long-running debate over whether former county bosses should immediately join institutions mandated to oversee their administrations.
Wamumbi has written to the Clerk of the National Assembly proposing an amendment to the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024.
In his proposal, the lawmaker seeks to bar anyone who has served as a governor within the preceding five years from contesting a Senate seat.
In a notice dated October 19, 2026, Wamumbi informed the Clerk of the National Assembly that he intended to amend Clause 10 of the Bill.
The proposed amendment states: “(2B) For purposes of election as a senator, a person shall not be registered as a candidate if the person has, at any time within the five years immediately preceding the date of election, held office as a county governor.”
The proposal would effectively introduce a five-year cooling-off period between serving as governor and seeking election to the Senate.
Wamumbi's move comes as several governors approaching the end of their constitutionally permitted two terms are positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, with some eyeing Senate seats.
Among the second-term governors eyeing Senate seats are Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Julius Malombe (Kitui), Nathif Jama (Garissa), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), Dhadho Godana (Tana River) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri).
The proposal also revives a contentious debate that has repeatedly surfaced in Parliament since the first governors completed their two terms.
The issue gained prominence in 2023 when nominated Senator Raphael Chimera sponsored a constitutional amendment seeking to bar former governors from contesting parliamentary or county assembly seats for five years after leaving office.
The Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee subsequently backed Chimera's proposal, arguing that the cooling-off period would give oversight institutions time to complete investigations and accountability processes arising from a governor's tenure.
However, the proposal faced opposition from governors and constitutional lawyers, who argued that it infringed on the political rights guaranteed under Article 38 of the constitution.
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, a former senator, opposed the Bill, describing the proposed restriction as unconstitutional. He argued that former governors should retain their right to seek elective office.
In 2020, former Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito introduced a similar proposal seeking to bar former governors from contesting elective positions for five years after leaving office.
His proposal was broader, targeting the presidency, Parliament and county assemblies.
The proposal sparked heated debate in the Senate, with opponents warning that it could violate political rights.
The campaign resurfaced in 2026 through the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Kirinyaga Senator James Murango.
The Bill seeks to bar former governors from contesting Senate and MCA seats for five years. The Senate committee has backed the measure following public participation.
Wamumbi's latest amendment therefore represents a fresh attempt to achieve through electoral legislation what previous constitutional proposals have struggled to accomplish.
