The Roots Party leader asserts he possesses the late premier’s spirit, dismissing rivals and condemning the broad-based government as a betrayal of the struggle.

In a political landscape desperately searching for a new kingpin following the death of Raila Odinga, Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has made a startling claim to the throne. Speaking to Ramogi TV, the eccentric politician declared himself the true successor to the ODM leader, going so far as to claim that he possesses Raila’s "spirit." This metaphysical assertion adds a surreal twist to the intense succession battle currently raging in the Nyanza region and across the national opposition.

Wajackoyah, known for his unconventional style and marijuana legalization platform, dismissed other contenders for the Nyanza leadership as mere pretenders. He positioned himself as the "orphan" left behind by a political father, arguing that his relationship with Raila was spiritual and ideological. "I have his spirit," he proclaimed, suggesting that his guidance comes from a higher plane rather than backroom political deals.

A Broad-Based Betrayal

The professor reserved his harshest venom for the "broad-based" government arrangement that saw several opposition leaders join the Ruto administration. Wajackoyah claimed that Raila had actually abandoned this concept before his death, realizing it was a trap. He painted those who joined the government as opportunists who are "singing for their supper" while the common man suffers. "I refused their offers," Wajackoyah stated, alleging that he was approached with bribes of land and positions to join the Kenya Kwanza fold.

His narrative is one of purity and resistance. By refusing to "eat" with the government, Wajackoyah is attempting to tap into the disillusionment of the radical opposition base that feels abandoned by the ODM defectors. He framed his refusal not just as a political choice, but as a moral imperative inherited from Raila’s days of struggle.

• The Spiritual Claim: Wajackoyah’s assertion of having Raila’s "spirit" is a calculated move to bypass traditional party structures and appeal directly to the emotional loyalty of the Luo nation.
• The Rivals: He scoffed at leaders like Babu Owino and the "Linda Wananchi" brigade, as well as the pro-government faction, portraying himself as the only untainted leader left standing.
• The Allegations: His claims of being offered helicopters and 150 acres of land in the Maasai Mara to join the government remain unverified but serve to burnish his credentials as incorruptible.

The Vacuum in Nyanza

The death of Raila Odinga created a vacuum that nature—and politics—abhors. While Oburu Oginga holds the family mantle and the ODM structure, and leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka seek to inherit the national coalition, Wajackoyah is carving out a niche as the populist outsider. His blend of mysticism, radicalism, and anti-establishment rhetoric makes him a wild card in the succession matrix.

Whether the electorate will buy into his claim of spiritual succession remains to be seen. But in a politics defined by betrayal and shifting alliances, Wajackoyah’s message of consistent resistance—and his colorful delivery—ensures he will not be easily ignored. For now, the "Ganja President" is preaching a new gospel: the gospel according to Raila’s ghost.