Are you 18? You can run for president

Someone fresh from secondary school can now legally run for presidency under the proposed constitution as long as he/she has attained 18 years of age.

They will, however, need to meet the requirement of being members of Parliament.

This move by the Committee of Experts gives a new twist to an issue that has rocked the country since independence.

Less than a year ago, Igembe South MP Mithuka Linturi said he had prepared a Bill seeking to bar anyone aged above 65 years from running for presidency.

The move was viewed by some as aimed at locking out Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the most preferred presidential candidate according to opinion polls. Mr Odinga will be 67 years old in 2012 and is among those eyeing the presidency.

Once the proposed constitution becomes law, all constitutional office holders will continue serving the remainder of their terms. However, they will be required to report to an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, 30 days after it is formed, after which they can be re-appointed if cleared of corruption.

All state officers led by the president shall also be required to take the oath of office prescribed under the new constitution.

Interim commission

Within 30 days of the enactment of the new constitution, the President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be required to establish an Interim Judicial Service Commission to serve for one year.

The commission shall comprise three retired judges, an advocate appointed by the Law Society of Kenya and a non-citizen judge from a commonwealth country.

All judges and other judicial officers including the Chief Justice will continue serving in the Judiciary but under an acting capacity. They will then have 60 days to opt for retirement or seek to be cleared for corruption to continue serving.