Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has reaffirmed his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, dismissing speculation that he could step aside in favour of another candidate or join an emerging opposition alliance.
Wajackoyah said his campaign is focused on building grassroots support and engaging voters directly, rather than relying on opinion polls to determine his chances in the race.
Speaking during an interview with K24 on Monday, the Roots Party leader said his presidential ambitions remain unchanged and that he has no plans to back another candidate at this stage.
“I’m on the ballot. I’m running for president,” Wajackoyah said.
His declaration comes as political parties and leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 General Election, with opposition figures exploring possible alliances and efforts to rally behind a common presidential candidate.
Wajackoyah said the absence of his name from prominent positions in opinion polls has not affected his determination to contest the presidency.
He argued that his political strength should be measured through direct engagement with voters and grassroots mobilisation rather than polling numbers.
“The fear has been with the polls; those polls that run around have never mentioned my name, but I’m not campaigning from them. I’m campaigning within the population and the people of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
The Roots Party leader said his approach has changed since the 2022 General Election, when he contested the presidency on the party’s ticket.
He said he is now concentrating on meeting voters directly and expanding his political network across the country.
Wajackoyah also revealed that he has deliberately reduced his presence on Facebook as he focuses more on physical campaigning and grassroots mobilisation.
“I am campaigning, I’m on the ground, and that’s why I’ve even gone off Facebook,” he said.
Wajackoyah also emphasised that Roots Party is a registered political party with its own presidential candidate, signalling that he does not currently see the need to depend on another political formation to pursue his presidential ambitions.
“Roots Party is a registered political party with a presidential candidate,” he said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of efforts by various opposition parties and political leaders to forge broader alliances ahead of the 2027 election.
The Roots Party leader also dismissed suggestions that he was considering joining the United Alternative Government, an emerging political platform bringing together parties and leaders seeking to build a stronger opposition front ahead of the 2027 election.
Asked whether he was considering working with the group, Wajackoyah said he had not been approached.
“I have not been approached,” he said.
Wajackoyah also challenged other presidential hopefuls to invite him to their public meetings and campaign events, saying such platforms would give him an opportunity to demonstrate his support among voters.
Wajackoyah contested the presidency in the 2022 General Election on the Roots Party ticket and finished third with 61,969 votes, according to results declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
His latest declaration sets the stage for another presidential campaign, with his biggest challenge likely to be translating his grassroots mobilisation efforts into broader national support.
Unlike candidates seeking strength through political alliances, Wajackoyah says his strategy is to build support directly among voters and maintain Roots Party as his political vehicle for 2027.
During the interview, Wajackoyah also defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta against allegations that he is financing political activities ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He argued that Uhuru, despite having retired from the presidency, retains the right to participate in politics as long as he operates within the law.
“Those who are condemning Uhuru, are they not also financing? Uhuru is retired. Uhuru has not come out to say I’m running for president, but he also has a right to participate in politics in whichever way,” Wajackoyah said.
He challenged those accusing the former president of breaking the law to provide evidence and pursue legal action rather than relying on public accusations.
“If Uhuru has committed mayhem or has broken the law, take him to court,” he said.
Wajackoyah’s latest declaration places him firmly in the early 2027 presidential contest, at a time when political alliances and potential coalition arrangements are taking shape.
For the Roots Party leader, the immediate challenge will be turning his grassroots campaign into a stronger national political base and improving significantly on his 2022 performance.
While other political players focus on coalition-building, Wajackoyah is signalling that he intends to pursue a different route—building his support from the grassroots and going into the 2027 election as the Roots Party presidential candidate.
