Petitioner Wants Presidential Age Limit in Kenya Capped at Age 70

Persons who have attained 70 years could soon be blocked from running for Presidency should Members of Parliament support a new petition seeking to introduce a cap on presidential age limit.

In his petition to Parliament,  Mohamud Abdi wants MPs to amend Article 260 of the Constitution to introduce his proposal. Abdi argues that individuals aged 70 years and above are “less productive due to unstable health conditions”.

In his six-page document, Abdi, a resident of Wajir bases his proposal on a “scientific argument” about the productivity of aged people.

“Science has it that persons above the age of 70 years are more susceptible to chronic illness and other lifestyle diseases. The productivity of individuals above this age relates to their effectiveness to discharge national duties is doubtful,” Abdi said.

He further questions why there is no age limit on presidency, yet the country has laws putting the retirement age for public servants at 60.

“While other state officers are exposed to a retirement age, for instance judges under Article 167 of the Constitution and other public officers, the retirement age of the political class is unrestricted and unfettered,” he said.

The Constitution puts the minimum age for a presidential candidate at 35 years.

“It is left at the whims of individual choices, therefore, making Kenyans susceptible to a recycled crop of leaders who are often unwilling to surrender the political space to the younger generation.”