[NASA leader Raila Odinga. He has vied for the presidency five times since 1997. Courtesy: The Star]
Political commentator and columnist Martin Andati has dismissed calls from the Jubilee wing for Opposition chief Raila Odinga to retire from active politics.
According to Jubilee, the former Prime Minister should call it a day in politics on grounds that he is already in an advanced age.
However, in an opinion editorial published with The Star Newspaper, Andati noted that Mr Odinga should not be pushed to retire, arguing that the country has before had Heads of State who served in their old age.
"People rarely retire from politics. Mwai Kibaki became President at 72 years. Jomo Kenyatta became President at the age of 74. Nelson Mandela became President at 72. They were all good Presidents and they served very well," he opined.
"According to me, the question of Raila retiring now, at age 72, should not be an issue. The Jubilee side was trying to politick on that so that it looks like he is tired and needs to go home. But if one is mentally and physically capable, then he can still serve," he added.
Raila has given the presidency five stabs before, losing controversially in the last two.