President

Leads the executive branch of the Government of Kenya, represents the nation in foreign affairs, and is the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.

• Appoints (with parliamentary approval) Cabinet Secretaries and other state officers
• Assents to Bills passed by Parliament
• Directs and coordinates the functions of national government ministries
• Chairs the National Security Council

Term

5 years

Term limit

Maximum of two terms

Elected by

Direct election by registered voters nationwide; requires more than half of all votes cast plus at least 25% of votes in more than half of the counties.

Accountable to the people of Kenya through Parliament and the Judiciary; required to address the opening of each new session of Parliament and to report annually on the state of the nation.

• Impeachment by the National Assembly and Senate on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution, serious crime, or gross misconduct (Article 145)
• Removal on grounds of physical or mental incapacity (Article 144)

• Unlike a Governor, the President leads the national (not county) government and is elected by the whole country, not a single county.
• Unlike Members of Parliament, the President does not vote on laws — the President assents to or refers back Bills that Parliament has passed.

• The President does not directly run county-level services like dispensaries or local roads — those are devolved to county governments.
• The President cannot make law unilaterally; laws originate in Parliament.