Today's Headlines
- Two Exhibitions Are On At Ramoma, Nairobi
- Country to Review Tourism Law
- Econet Wireless Finally Rolls Out
- Odinga Warns of Civil Unrest
- Mulee Rules Out Harambee Stars U-Turn
- Taking Up a Women's Agenda
- More Than 6,000 Christian Youth Converge for Prayers
- Catholic Church Outraged By MPs' Refusal to Pay Tax
- Pope Benedict Praying for Release of Abducted Nuns
- Thousands Flee Amid Fears of Border Clashes
- Malaria Rates Plummet Among Children
- Winning Against HIV Stigma Behind Bars
- First Congress of Federation of African Journalists a Historic Milestone, Says IFJ
- Archbishop Lele Urges State to Act as Food Crisis Bites
- Regional Workshop Focus Border Management, Irregular Migration
- Silverbird Acquires Kenya's Nu Metro, Starts Operations in Ghana
- Raila is Evil, Says Minister
- Man Charged With Abduction of Two Catholic Sisters
- UN Censures State On Torture
- Agencies Seek $390 Million to Offset Climate And Food Risks
- UN-Backed Scheme Gives 3,000 Prisoners Clean Water and Sanitation
- Samosa Festival is On in Nairobi
- Heartstrings in Another Comedy
- Govts, Investors Engage RVR in Rail Bid
- Mwangi Replaces Mwebesa At NSE
- Riepa Hosts Business Association
- ICTR Petitions UN for Arrest of Kabuga
- UBA to Invest SH360 Billion in Kenya
- Free Movement of People Too, Not Just Goods and Capital
- Judges Running Out of Money?
The Nation (Nairobi)
September 2, 2008
News Article
Cotu Monday opposed a move by some MPs to bar people aged over 65 from contesting the presidency.
Secretary-general Francis Atwoli said the move would stifle democracy.
"Kenyans seeking presidential, parliamentary and Local Authority's seats should not be projected into narrow view of age," Mr Atwoli said in a statement to media houses on Monday.
The trade unionist said it was unacceptable and retrogressive to elect political leaders on the basis of age other than one's record of service delivery.
However, Mr Atwoli backed a proposal to raise the retirement age of civil servants by five years to 60.
He said by raising the retirement age, Kenya would be in line with the East African Community States and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) laws. He said Kenya had contravened ILO laws by lowering retirement age to 55.
Internal Security minister George Saitoti said he would leave it up to Parliament to decide whether those aged above 65 years should run for presidency.
Contender
The minister, a potential contender in the 2012 presidential polls, said on Sunday that he would not comment on a motion seeking to bar those above 65 years of age from seeking the country's top job. He was speaking to journalists after a funds drive in his Kajiado North constituency.
Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has filed a motion seeking to bar Kenyans aged above 65 years from seeking the presidency.
At the same time, MPs clamouring for the establishment of the Grand Official Opposition are determined to support Mr Linturi's motion. Led by Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, the MPs said political leadership needs young and energetic people and should not be a place for retirement.
In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the MPs said he belonged to almost the same age group with President Kibaki and should retire in 2012.
"It is unfortunate that some leaders are or will have attained the age of 65 years in 2012. They should retire and pave way for fresh leadership, just like in the civil service" Mr Jirongo said.
The MPs were speaking in Nzambani area during a thanksgiving party hosted by Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny said leaders who were aged above 55 could not be effective in their respective dockets.
Reports by Kibiwott Koross, Oliver Mathenge and Kitavi Mutua
