MP gives notice on Motion to limit presidential age

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has given notice of a Motion seeking to amend the Constitution to limit the age of presidential candidates to 65 years.

Linturi, who is also the chairman of the Public Investments Committee, said while the Constitution stipulated that anyone running for president must have attained 35 years, it did not impose an upper limit.

Amid applause, he formally announced intention to move a motion seeking Parliament’s permission to introduce a Constitutional Bill stating those aged not more than 65 years to be eligible for election to the high office.

Linturi kicked up a storm in August when the House was on recess saying he would seek a constitutional amendment to bar anyone above 65 years from occupying State House.

Focus shifts to the House Business Committee (HBC), a committee that determines the agenda of the House, to allocate time for the motion. Once HBC gives the nod, Linturi will formally move the Motion for debate.

Opposition came largely from ODM MPs who claimed the move was in bad taste and targeted Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

But Linturi defended this saying since retirement for civil servants was 55 years, it was wrong to have a person past that age running the country.

Pensions act

Mr Linturi also issued notice of another Motion to amend the Pensions Act to increase the retirement age for civil servants from 55 to 60 years.

The MP announced he would file a motion seeking House permission to introduce a Local Authorities Remuneration Bill to fix the salaries of mayors and deputy mayors.

Meanwhile an MP accused the Government of endangering national security for allowing what he called mindless privatisation of Safaricom and the acquisition by France Telkom. Bonny Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford-Kenya) claimed the Government had flouted

Privatisation regulations and was now trying to mitigate by proposing new regulatory regimes.

Internal Security deputy minister Simeon Lesrima said the Information ministry would continue regulating the telecommunication sector through the Communication of Kenya.

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API/Source.standard.ke