Aston Lukoye
Former Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae disclosed how George Wajackoyah, the party’s leader at the time, made a critical error that endangered her life during the run-up to the elections on August 9, 2022.
Speaking on the Point Of View (POV) podcast hosted by Cate Rira, Wamae recalls joining Wajackoyah to a rally in Kondele, Kisumu, and being pursued by irate boda boda riders.
Wamae voiced her horror at Wajackoyah rushing towards the airport as the convoy was being closely pursued by the riders, a situation that left her exposed. She cited the events that took place in the Lakeside city as the main reason for her final rupture with Wajackoyah.
“What he did, his car drove as we were driving in a convoy, I don’t know how they went to the other side of the road, they drove off and they went to the airport and he went to Nairobi, leaving me in Kisumu.
“We didn’t have money for mobilisation, and those guys boda boda riders chased my car. I’m telling you we were driving like mad people,” she revealed.
She added that she faced a serious threat to her life as a result of Wajackoyah leaving her in Kisumu because she was in a city full of people who would probably profile her for her tribe.
She claimed that Wajackoyah should have advised his group to make plans for their own transportation out of Kondele in advance rather than relying on his automobile for additional directions in case things went wrong.
“I’m even panicking I’m thinking I’ll be killed. Remember I’m a Kikuyu in Kisumu, are you getting? I was disturbed. I wasn’t happy.
“I wish he told us, guys after Kondele this is the vibe, everyone for himself, we’d have turned from Kondele to run away to Nairobi. We followed him, and the guy jumps and heads towards the airport. He put my life in danger. My life was in danger, I felt scared, I was worried,” she said.
“My husband is also panicking asking what has happened. They were running in another direction, we were running in another direction, and the guys had seen me that this is the car that had the running mate. So guys were following us, we were driving like mad people,” she went on.
Wamae later decided that she was never going to be in good relations with him and scolded him for endangering her life, which eventually led to her stinging attack on Wajackoyah days before the August elections.
“For me, he put my life in danger and that was very selfish of him and from that point is when I realized, I’m never going to laugh with this man.
“I’m going to be very serious and I told him later you put my life in danger and everyone in the party knew, because what if the car was stopped? I’m pulled out, I’m a woman you know, I’m vulnerable at that point,” she added.
On August 3, 2022, Wamae charged Wajackoyah of violating the party’s regulations and failing to consult her despite her membership in the party and her name being on the ballot for the general elections on August 9th. She specifically charged that the professor had backed Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio la Umoja, in his campaign for president.
