With Kenya’s presidential elections slated for August 9, George Wajackoyah alias Rastafarian, one of the ‘underdog’ candidates in the race is causing shockwaves on the political battlefield.
Wajackoyah’s unexpected popularity comes from his willingness to legalise marijuana as he has made it the backbone of his political agenda.
According to several reports from Kenya, Wajackoyah claimed that legalising the growing of marijuana for both recreational and medical uses would allow his government to pay off Kenya’s $12b debt-servicing costs.
He asserts that exporting the marijuana would bring about $3bn to the government coffers and the money would be kept safe under his presidency.
Also, among other reforms, Wajackoyah wishes to give Kenya a dominant position in the anti-venom market by encouraging snake farming. He claims that snake poison is worth a fortune, and Kenya should develop the industry to pay off its Chinese debt.
Political experts from Kenya are fearing that his rising popularity might force a run-off between the formidable candidate William Ruto and Raila Odinga.