Wajackoyah hits back at clergy, asks supporters to boycott church
Roots Party Presidential candidate George Wajackoyah address the media after witnessing the issuance of the first snake farming license to Afro Sayari Chairman James Gitundu at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters in Nairobi on June 20, 2022.
Roots Party Presidential candidate George Wajackoyah has hit back at the clergy for what he said was trying to dissuade Kenyans from supporting his bid, accusing them of being tainted by scandals.
Prof Wajackoyah, who has centred his manifesto on legalization of bhang and the subsequent commercial farming of the herb, a move the church has said reeked of promotion of immorality and illegalities, also called on his supporters to consider boycotting churches opposed to his bid until they change their stance.
Speaking outside Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters, where he was expected to witness the issuing of licenses for snake farming, the ‘ganja president’ said the clergy have failed to read his manifesto, and that they cannot purport to tell him how to go about his business.
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“Some bishops have been found in bushes sleeping recklessly, and instead of facing judgement, they are here trying to incite Kenyans. They have not read our manifesto. They only went straight into smoking of marijuana. Tell those men of God that it is time they realize that Kenya doesn’t belong to them,” Prof Wajackoyah said.
He urged the church to instead work hard at finding jobs for the youth, even as he accused them of receiving proceeds of corruption. He also warned the church to be careful lest the young rebel against them.
“These churches don’t provide jobs for the youth, and Instead of offering a place to sleep for the homeless and the poor, they are here telling Professor Wajackoyah that they denounce him. Let the church know that it has a duty to pray for people like me, so that if I’m insane, I can become sane. But they have no right to lecture me about what the Kenyan needs are,” he said.
“I am speaking about the few pastors. The Catholic Church has done very well in this country. It has tried to eradicate poverty, and to educate. But if they start this campaign of discrediting Wajackoyah, I want all Kenyans who listen to us and want to chart our future to boycott those churches until they say otherwise,” he added.
His running mate, Justina Wangui emphasised that Roots Party focuses on being an exporting hub, to earn the country more income.
The response came just a day after Catholic Bishops asked Kenyans to ignore Wajackoyah and his bhang manifesto, saying that Kenyans need to keep away from “immoral and unethical manifestos which will break the social fabric of the country.”
“Unethical manifestos contained among others, liberalization and promotion of drug use,” said Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria on Sunday.
“Let us keep this in mind that for a nation to thrive, it must be founded on ethical and moral grounds,'' he said, adding that Kenyans should interrogate each and every leader by looking at their earlier statements and what they stand for.”
Prof Wajackoyah has been vocal about his intentions to legalize marijuana and encourage snake farming for export, which he says will help pay Kenya’s debts.
Following his talks with Kenya Wildlife Service, it is expected that farmers who have already applied for licenses to carry out snake farming will obtain their licenses during the course of the week.
Some of them include the Chairperson of Afro Sayari Grounds and Events, Mr James Gitundu and his counterpart, John Muranda, who is the Marketing Director of the recreational center.
Once licensed, they expect to put arrangements in place to set up a snake park, from where they will extract venom, and educate Kenyans about importance of snake venom.
