Winning Strategy

Kenneth and EJ play a game. They take turns saying a number until someone says 69.A winner will be declared if he says 69. Their rules are as follows:

• First person to say a number will say a number from 1 to 8.The second person will say a number that is 1 to 8 more than the previous number. For example, if Kenneth said 5, EJ will say a number from 6 to 13.

• Second rule is that no one is allowed to pass or to say the same number. No one is also allowed to say a number that is less than the previous number and all numbers must be positive integers.

If Kenneth will say first, what is the lowest number of numbers to be say during the game if the game is to be as short as possible and for Kenneth to win?

Clarification: As short as possible means low number of turns, time that takes someone to say is not included.