Will Wajackoyah scuttle Raila, Ruto chance of getting 50 plus one?
Roots Party Presidential candidate George Wajackoya has become a sensation as the clock ticks towards the August 9, polls.
The first-time presidential candidate has generated lots of buzz on social media with a section of Kenyans exploiting him in making digital content such as memes.
His pledge to legalize hemp and implement snake farming has made him a household name in Kenya.
But will his newfound popularity translate to votes in the August 9, polls?
Though some have labelled his pledges as political sideshows and jest, Wajackoyah is seemingly tapping on a voting block that has for years been neglected.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu is among the leaders who believe Wajackoyah is reaping votes as polls near.
Ngilu opined that Wajackoyah is now enjoying the backing of the youthful block perceived to be under the control of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
"It’s not so much the Azimio surge and consolidation of key bases. It’s also the rapid momentum with which Kenya Kwisha are ceding ground they previously comfortably occupied like Mt Kenya," Ngilu said in a Facebook post on June 11.
"Even Wajackoya is now threatening their assumed key demographic of 18-30 and partakers of bhang."
A poll released by Trends For Insights Africa on June 21 showed that though Wajackoyah was a distant third in Nairobi, he had gained significant popularity in the last few weeks.
In the poll, ODM leader Raila Odinga stretched his lead to 50 per cent while Ruto had 25 per cent.
Wajckoyah who featured nowhere in the preceding polls came in third with 7 percent.
Political analyst Herman Manyora admits that Wajackoya has jolted the political setting ahead of the polls.
Though he maintains the August polls remain a two-horse race, just like Ngilu, Manyora says Wajackoyah will bag the support of the majority of voters who consume hemp.
“People are excited about his candidature, but since the country seems to be divided between Raila and Ruto, it will be very difficult for a third horse to emerge, so the excitement could die off," Manyora told the Star.
"Although there is a sizeable number of young people, especially those who take this thing he is talking about, they may decide to vote for somebody who talks about this thing of theirs and that is dangerous and could mean there is a run-off."
For former Kiambu governor William Kabogo, Wajackoyah's popularity is likely to translate to votes.
In an interview with a local TV station, the former Governor said the Roots Party presidential candidate is a third force in the coming polls.
“I was campaigning in Kiambu and I can tell there are people who will vote for Raila, others Ruto and now Wajackoyah. At the sole mention of his name, you can sense something in the crowds, and you cannot turn a blind eye to that,” he said.
Danstan Omari, a Lawyer and political commentator, says Wajackoyah's attention to areas neglected by his opponents will reap him votes.
He notes that his promise to address controversial issues such as bhang and the LGBTQ agenda will win him support.
“The sensation is likely to cause a serious disruption on Ruto’s and Raila’s vote tally. He is addressing a constituency that has never been addressed," Omari said.
"A constituency that the two big formations always dismiss as goons, thugs, criminals and as non-entities...so Wajackoya is likely to have the biggest impact than any other third force has applied.”
With less than 50 days to the August elections, Wajackoyah's popularity faces the test of time for one to factually establish whether his popularity will translate to votes. BY THE STAR
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