Leader of Majority Aden Duale Opposes Age Limit Petition on Presidency

National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale on Tuesday opposed the age limit petition on the presidency. 

The Garissa Township MP termed the petition unconstitutional and asserted that the petition would be thrown out as soon as it is presented in parliament.

He exclaimed: "What is before the House is a petition, and the Justice and Legal Affairs committee will throw it out for being unconstitutional."

[caption caption="File image of ODM leader Raila Odinga and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale"][/caption]

Additionally, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju dismissed the debate as "useless", claiming that it was unfortunate some political elites were concerned about 2022 at the expense of development.

A section of Opposition MPs on Tuesday also declared that they would fight any bid to bar anyone above 70 years from running for president, alleging that it targeted Raila Odinga.

Kisumu Senator Fred Outa acknowledged the issue was being discussed informally, adding that many senators had vowed to block the petition, which should be decided by next month.

"We have been discussing this in many of our meetings and it defies sense to us," noted Mr Outa, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Security, Defence and Foreign Relations.

On her part, Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga affirmed that they would deal with the matter when it will be tabled to Parliament.

"We are waiting for it with bated breath. You don't make laws for individuals but Kenyans," Ms Wanga highlighted.

Other Opposition leaders who have openly dismissed the petition include, Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West MP), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Rosa Buyu (Kisumu Woman Rep), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu East), Fred Ouda (Kisumu Central), Mark Nyamita (Uriri) and Paul Abuor (Rongo).

Although the petition did not mention ODM party leader, there has been unease stemming from the fact that Mr Odinga will be 77 years by 2022.

A petition by Mohammed Mohammud Sheikh of Wajir, which is before Parliament, is now being viewed by MPs allied to Raila as a threat to his presidential candidature in 2022.

[caption caption="File image of ODM leader Raila Odinga and a section of ODM leaders"][/caption]

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