Roots Party leader Prof. George Luchiri Wajackoyah has admitted that his widely publicized campaign to legalize bhang during the 2022 presidential race was a strategic tool to attract attention rather than a literal promise. The former presidential candidate, known for his eccentric campaign style and unconventional ideas, said the move was deliberate — meant to get Kenyans to listen.
“When I said we are going to smoke bhang, I wanted an audience. I wanted somebody to listen to me,” Wajackoyah revealed in a recent interview.
The admission adds a new layer of insight into one of Kenya’s most talked-about political campaigns. During the 2022 elections, Wajackoyah’s rallies were marked by reggae music, youthful crowds chanting “bhangi eeeh !”, and promises that Kenya could pay off its debts by exporting marijuana. His campaign instantly went viral, earning him cult-like popularity and global attention, even as critics dismissed his platform as unrealistic.
In explaining his approach, Wajackoyah said that his goal was not to promote drug use, but to spark curiosity and discussion in a political space often dominated by traditional messaging.
“I wanted to get Kenyans to listen,” he reiterated, noting that controversial subjects such as cannabis legalization gave him a platform to talk about deeper issues — including corruption, unemployment, and economic dependency.
His campaign manifesto had famously proposed that Kenya could earn billions by industrializing marijuana for medicinal and export purposes. He also floated unusual ideas such as introducing a four-day workweek and exporting snake venom for pharmaceutical use.
The professor’s campaign, though light on traditional policy detail, injected a new kind of theatrical energy into Kenyan politics. It resonated with a section of young voters frustrated by what they saw as recycled promises from mainstream politicians.
In contrast to his public image as the face of Kenya’s “bhang revolution”, Wajackoyah disclosed that he has never smoked cannabis or any other substance.
“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t eat meat or fish — I have never smoked bhang,” he said, describing himself as deeply spiritual and health-conscious.
The revelation, which many found surprising, highlights a stark difference between the politician’s personal discipline and the flamboyant public persona that defined his campaign. Wajackoyah has long identified with a vegetarian lifestyle inspired by the Hare Krishna faith, which promotes non-violence, purity, and minimalism.
He previously told local media that he does not use plates at home but eats directly from a sufuria, explaining that it reflects his desire to live simply and avoid waste.
By his own account, Wajackoyah’s decision to center his campaign on bhang legalization was less about narcotics and more about breaking political monotony. His thinking was that in a crowded field of candidates — William Ruto, Raila Odinga, and others — he needed something bold enough to pierce the public consciousness.
Indeed, in 2022, the Roots Party candidate became one of the most searched names online, his rallies drawing large youthful crowds. The “Wajackoyah effect” was felt on TikTok and Twitter, where memes, remixes, and campaign clips went viral.
While his total vote count remained small — less than one percent — the impact of his campaign far exceeded the numbers. For many young voters, he became a symbol of rebellion and humor in politics, while others credited him for expanding the limits of public discourse.
Beyond politics, Wajackoyah’s lifestyle and philosophy continue to intrigue Kenyans. He often speaks of his time in India, where he says he studied Hindu philosophy, and his experiences as a law scholar and immigration lawyer in the United Kingdom.
“I live a pure life. I don’t need alcohol or meat to be happy,” he once told TUKO.co.ke. His vegetarianism and teetotalism, he says, help him stay spiritually balanced.
These admissions are likely to renew public interest in his personal journey — from a street boy in Nairobi to a professor of law, and from an exile in the U.K. to a presidential contender who captured headlines worldwide.
Wajackoyah’s latest remarks underline a broader truth about modern politics — that personality and performance often matter as much as policy. His use of “bhang talk” as an entry point to serious national issues shows how unconventional branding can translate into visibility, even without a traditional political machine.?
Though he has not announced whether he will vie again in 2027, Wajackoyah remains one of Kenya’s most colorful and unpredictable political figures. His latest confession that he “used bhang to get an audience” may change how Kenyans interpret his campaign, but it also confirms what many suspected — that behind the theatrics lies a shrewd communicator with an eye for the dramatic.
And while he insists he has never smoked, drunk, or eaten meat, his knack for stirring conversation remains unmatched. Whether as a law professor, a spiritualist, or a political showman, George Wajackoyah continues to prove that Kenyan politics will always have room for the unexpected.
