Khalwale Criticizes Wajackoyah’s Dress Code, Suggests ‘Awache Bhangi’.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has stirred debate by criticizing former presidential candidate George Wajackoyah’s choice of attire, suggesting that only one of his photos truly looks presidential.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Khalwale, known locally as the bullfighter, took a jab at Wajackoyah’s signature style, implying that it befits a bhang smoker more than a national leader.

“The Hon George Wajackoyah. I came across this photo, and indeed, it looks presidential. Hizo zingine za bangi awache,” Khalwale quipped.

Wajackoyah first rose to prominence during the 2022 presidential elections with a controversial manifesto that proposed radical changes, such as a four-day workweek, with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays designated as the weekend. His most talked-about policy was the legalization of marijuana, which he argued could be a lucrative industry to help Kenya pay off its debts.

As the leader of the Roots Party, Wajackoyah also proposed exporting snake venom and dog meat to Asian markets, as well as imposing severe penalties on corrupt government officials. He famously suggested demolishing the Chinese-funded Standard Gauge Railway and rebuilding it without external assistance.

Wajackoyah further proposed suspending parts of the Kenyan constitution to allow citizens to decide how they want to be governed. He pointed out that several well-managed countries, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Israel, operate efficiently without a written constitution.

He also suggested reintroducing Kenya’s eight provinces and scrapping the current county system, an idea that has recently gained traction. Comedian Eric Omondi has launched a signature-collection drive to reduce what he describes as overrepresentation in the government.

“Kenya is overrepresented. One person has a president, deputy president, governor, deputy governor, MP, senator, woman representative, MCA, regional commissioner, county commissioner, assistant county commissioner, chief, sub-chief, and village elder. A single Kenyan is represented by 16 people doing the same thing,” Omondi said at a press conference on August 20, 2024.

As these discussions unfold, Khalwale’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate about what constitutes presidential demeanor and the broader issues of governance in Kenya.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.