August 9

Ruto ally Aaron Cheruiyot: Wajackoyah is gaining popularity in Kisumu and Kericho

Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 09:47 | By
Ruto ally Aaron Cheruiyot: Wajackoyah is gaining popularity in Kisumu and Kericho
George Wajackoyah and his running Justina Wamae during a past campaign rally. PHOTO/Wajackoyah (@Hon_wajackoyah)/Twitter

Deputy President William Ruto's ally Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has confessed that Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah might force a run-off.

Cheruiyot laments that Wajackoyah is becoming a threat to the hustler nation because of the way he is gaining popularity even in Ruto's strongholds in Rift Valley.

Speaking on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, during a panel interview on a local TV station together with Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, the Kericho Senator insisted that Wajackoyah is gaining pockets of support all over the country.

"He enjoys pockets of support in different parts of the country apart from the two regions (Raila and Ruto's traditional strongholds) And even in those regions, there is something that I have noticed," Senator Cheruiyot said.

Wajackoyah enjoys support in Kisumu and Kericho

Cheruiyot, who frequently flies to Kisumu before driving to his home in the nearby Kericho, noted that youth in the two regions are embracing Wajackoyah's ideas.

"I use Kisumu and Kericho as an example because they are the two counties I frequent the most. I use Kisumu on my way home and then Kericho is my home so I know the two counties better than any other part of the country. There are areas of that county where especially what you would normally refer to as the base where young people sit and those people enjoy some of the things that Wajackoyah is promising (legalisation of bhang)," he said.

"I have noticed that he [Wajackoyah] is gaining notoriety and prominence. I normally drive through Kondele sometimes when there is traffic in town I have seen his posters actually prominently displayed. And even in my own county of Kericho there are certain corners where a lot of these young people hang out and many of them have his posters and big banners saying freedom is coming," Cheruiyot added.

Run-off

The Kericho senator further expressed fears that Wajackoyah could force a run-off if he continues gaining popularity with voters.

"If this Wajackoyah pushes hard enough and scores anywhere upwards of 500,000 votes he can easily force a runoff. He is making some funny promises to these percentage that you are talking about that is not so significant. It's not only the youth, even the middle class. You know people are just excited about promises of legalising weed but you are forgetting that he has also promised something that is very appealing to the middle class," he said.

The Kericho Senator noted that the middle class is also excited about Wajackoyah because he promises them only four working days and a salary every fortnight.

"That you will work only four days a week so the weekend will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday that's very appealing to the middle class. And also he has promised that instead of monthly payment of salaries we will move back to the days of wages where you are paid every 14 days. And people are excited about such things so don't be too dismissive of him," he said.

"Illegal things are sometimes very attractive to rebellious youth. Wajackoyah is coming out as a liberator and this is very powerful. He might force a run-off," Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo also noted.

"Some of Wajackoya’s ideas should be put into proper context and executed," he added.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo however dismissed claims that Wajackoyah is gaining popularity in Raila Odinga's strongholds.

"Wajackoya is eating from a basket which is not Azimio’s but he is helping us keep reggae alive which is good," he said.

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