Wajackoyah the Only Presidential Candidate Not Bribing Voters - Report

A collage of Roots presidential candidate George Wajackoyah during a campaign rally at Shianda Market, Kakamega county on Sunday, June 26
A collage of Roots presidential candidate George Wajackoyah during a campaign rally at Shianda Market, Kakamega county on Sunday, June 26
Alex Kanyi

A report released by Haki Africa on Monday, June 28 showed that Roots Party flagbearer George Wajackoyah's campaign team was the only one that has not been involved in voter bribery at the level of the presidential vote. 

Speaking during a press statement in Nairobi, Executive Director Hussein Khalid noted that an assessment on the grassroots revealed that Wajackoyah offered no incentives to the youth during their campaign trail.

Khalid further stated that Haki had records of cases where all other campaigns - including Azimio and Kenya Kwanza - have engaged in electoral malpractices.

The civil society group added that the documentation had been forwarded to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other agencies to take appropriate actions on the respective culprits.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid in a past press conference..jpg
Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid in a past press conference.
Hussein Khalid

"Voter bribery from what we have witnessed is all round, maybe only Wajackoyah, whom we have not heard anything about. Even for independent candidates, we have documented incidences of voter bribery.

"We have documentation for both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza, and we shall share the information with relevant authorities to appropriate actions," he reiterated.

Speaking on the matter, IEBC Nairobi County Deputy Returning Officer Anthony Mahui attributed the bribery to underlying issues such as unemployment, which prompted the youth to take bribes.

"Underlying issues such as youth unemployment and poverty manifest in them taking the bribes, and they should be addressed deeply from the root cause. Even with our officers, sometimes we see open bribery every other day," Mahui explained.

Khalid explained that some of the concerns raised by the youth ahead of the August 9 General Election include an increase in political violence and incitement by some of the candidates.

Other issues flagged include the misuse of youth and women by politicians to engage in criminal activities such as gangs, misuse of social media by candidates to attack opponents and the displacement of voters in some regions. 

The organization noted that the political intolerance witnessed in Jacaranda and Mandera was instigated by funds offered to the youth and mischief by authorities.

For instance, they noted that an individual had received money from both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza for the reservation of the Jacaranda grounds causing the clash witnessed on the facility.

Wajackoyah prides himself in being 'clean' promised to deal with corruption with a firm hand if elected pesident. The Roots Party leader proposed the death penalty for any individual found guilty of the vice.

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