Opposition MPs Vow to Reject Petition Seeking to Block Raila from Running for Presidency in 2022

Members of Parliament drawn from the Opposition have vowed to vote against a petition presented in Parliament, seeking to cap the Presidential age limit.

The MPs see the petition as an attempt to block Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga from running for Presidency in the next elections.

The petition, tabled in Parliament by Mohammed Mohammud Sheikh from Wajir, proposes a change in legislation to cap Presidential age limit at 70 years. Legislators mainly drawn from Odinga's Orange Party are lobbying their colleagues from Jubilee to help them shoot down the petition.

Last month, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi admitted the petition and directed a House committee to review it within 60 days and table a report. 

''We cannot take away the right of any Kenyan as specifically stated in the Constitution,” said Muturi while admitting Sheikh's petition.

Opposition MPs Olago Aluoch(Kisumu West),Otiende Amollo(Rarieda), East),Rosa Buyu,(Kisumu Woman Rep) and Glady's Wanga( Homabay Woman Rep) have already publicly opposed the petition, the Standard reports.

Others are Bondo MP Gedion Ochanda, Shakeel Shabbir,(Kisumu East) Fred Ouda(Kisumu central), Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and Rongo MP Paul Abuor. 

 ''Age should not be an issue at all. What we need to do is to cap the Presidential term or tenure for individuals seeking to occupy the office," MP Olago Oluoch said as quoted by the Standard. ''Term limits... Yes but age limits we say Big No,'' said Olago 

 If the petition goes through, then Raila, now 73, would be ineligible to run for the country's top most political office in the 2022 polls.