Roots Party leader and former presidential candidate George Wajackoyah has suggested a way that might be necessary to “liberate” Kenya from deep-seated tribal divisions and political stagnation.
Speaking during a morning program on Spice FM, Wajackoyah criticized the current state of civilian politics, claiming they have failed to address entrenched tribalism and national disunity.
“For the betterment of this country, maybe we need a military coup,” he said, pointing to ongoing tensions between ethnic communities, particularly the Kalenjin and Luhya, as major roadblocks to progress.
“The only question I am asking myself is, why are the Kalenjin silent apart from Ruto, why are the Luhyas fighting? So, to remove all that, probably we need a military coup,” he added.
Wajackoyah cited historical and global precedents, claiming that some nations had only stabilized after experiencing military interventions.
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“If you look at America, there have been coups after coups until everything works out,” he said, also referencing Burkina Faso as a more regional example. “Let’s call a spade a spade and move ahead. This country needs total liberation to move ahead.”
Criticism of Ruto’s Leadership
Furthering his argument, Wajackoyah questioned the viability of President William Ruto’s administration.
Referring to Ruto’s controversial remark encouraging law enforcement to “shoot on the leg,” Wajackoyah said the statement was emblematic of a dysfunctional government.
“Kenyans have run out of options,” he said. “This country needs total liberation to move ahead,” he reiterated, painting a picture of a system so broken that radical solutions now seem palatable to many citizens.
Wajackoyah, known for his populist rhetoric and unconventional policy proposals, has long been a vocal critic of tribalism, corruption, and political elitism.
He has repeatedly claimed that tribal voting patterns drove his 2022 electoral defeat.
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“If the Luhyas alone elected me, I would be president today,” he told the same station in a previous interview.
On Working With Ruto — Under Conditions
Despite his criticisms, Wajackoyah did not entirely rule out working with President Ruto, but only under a framework based on specific issues.
“If Ruto came up today and said he is putting everything upside down and he wants people to come in and work with him, we shall work as a team if it’s issue-based,” he said. “But if it’s this issue of being told, ‘Let me give you the ministry and the money’ so that we can join him, we are not there.”
Wajackoyah proposed the creation of a Ministry for Generation Z if elected to office, arguing that the youth must be empowered to oversee and hold leaders accountable.
“In my government, I will have a ministry for Gen Z, so that they can look at what is happening and hold anyone accountable,” he said.
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