Professor George Wajackoyah, the eccentric scholar who electrified the 2022 general election with proposals to legalize marijuana and farm snakes, has announced he is back in the ring. Speaking on Ramogi TV, the Roots Party leader declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2027, asserting that his signature policy—the legalization of bhang for industrial and medicinal use—remains the silver bullet for Kenya’s economic woes.

Wajackoyah, who is observing a six-month mourning period for the late opposition titan Raila Odinga, struck a defiant tone. He dismissed the current crop of opposition leaders as ineffective and claimed that President William Ruto views him as the only genuine threat in the next election. "As I sit here, I am the one Ruto knows will be vying in the next election," he stated, positioning himself as the anti-establishment alternative to the current regime.

The Ganja Economy 2.0

Despite admitting in 2025 that some of his 2022 pledges were "tactics to get attention," Wajackoyah is doubling down on the core economic argument of his platform: the global cannabis market is a multi-billion dollar industry that Kenya is ignoring to its detriment. He argues that legalizing hemp could pay off Kenya's spiraling national debt and create millions of jobs for the disillusioned youth who formed the bedrock of his support.

• Mourning Baba: Wajackoyah paid glowing tribute to Raila Odinga, stating, "I will start my presidential campaign after my six months of mourning Baba." He revealed he refused to join the broad-based government out of respect for his principles.
• Lone Ranger: He distanced himself from the "United Opposition," criticizing their lack of policy and obsession with personality politics. "It is Ruto against my policies," he affirmed.
• The Youth Factor: Wajackoyah is betting that the economic desperation of Gen Z and Millennials will once again make his radical ideas appealing in 2027.

Serious Contender or Political Jester?

Critics often dismiss Wajackoyah as a sideshow, but his 2022 performance proved he could tap into a vein of voter frustration that mainstream politicians miss. By framing marijuana legalization not just as a social freedom but as an economic necessity, he sparked a national debate that hasn't fully gone away.

As the 2027 cycle begins to turn, Wajackoyah's re-entry guarantees color and controversy. Whether he can translate internet fame and curiosity into actual votes remains the question, but one thing is certain: the "Wajackoyah the Fifth" chants are about to start again.