Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has said he is open to working with President William Ruto, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wajackoyah, however, said any political partnership would have to be based on an agreement on issues and would not amount to automatically supporting any of the three leaders.
“Yes, I can work with Ruto; why not? He’s the president. I can work with Matiang’i; why not? I can work with Gachagua; why not? So long as we agree,” Wajackoyah said on K24 TV’s morning programme on Thursday.
“Because I’m not here to make a division. I need to be a president of the whole nation,” he added.
The Roots Party leader, who ran for president in the 2022 election, said he intends to remain in the presidential race rather than withdraw in favour of another candidate.
“I’m running with him, and therefore I don’t see why I should support him. We shall be on the ballot. Let the Kenyans decide,” he said.
Wajackoyah also ruled out the involvement of political intermediaries in any negotiations, saying he would prefer direct discussions with the leaders concerned.
“I can only support somebody who we agree with and who is also willing to listen to me. But no brokers. That’s what people are trying to do,” he said.
He challenged Ruto to contact him directly if the President wanted to discuss a political arrangement.
“If Ruto wants to stop me, here is the phone, call Wajackoyah and I’ll go there in broad daylight to speak with him because he’s the president,” he said.
Wajackoyah questions opposition talks
Wajackoyah also spoke about the ongoing consultations among opposition leaders, expressing disappointment with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“I thought Kalonzo was my friend,” he said, claiming that the former Vice President had not contacted him over the political discussions.
Wajackoyah said he did not want to join an arrangement simply to give other leaders political leverage.
“They wanted to use me as a stooge to give them clout,” he said.
He said he expected to be approached directly if opposition leaders wanted him to participate in their discussions.
“I thought he’d call me and say, ‘Prof, can you come, we have a seat?’ No,” Wajackoyah said.
The Roots Party leader said he was prepared to work with like-minded politicians but wanted political cooperation to be based on issues rather than personalities.
He has previously said he would consider joining an opposition arrangement if the leaders involved agreed on an issues-based programme.
Wajackoyah also contrasted his relationship with Kalonzo with his dealings with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“That is why Raila was different,” he said.
“If Raila was still alive, probably I could have made a coalition with Raila,” Wajackoyah added.
He said he had consequently chosen to remain in the political middle as discussions over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 election continue.
Wajackoyah was among the candidates who contested the 2022 presidential election, in which he campaigned on, among other proposals, the legalisation and commercialisation of marijuana.
His latest remarks leave his presidential bid intact while indicating that he remains open to discussions with leaders from both the government and opposition sides, provided there is agreement on the issues.
