Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has announced the revival of his controversial plan to legalise the cultivation of cannabis in Kenya again because the country’s burgeoning public debt could be cleared and the development of infrastructure projects carried out through hemp farming ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a public comment on his economic plan during an interview with a local TV station on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Wajackoyah defended marijuana use, pointing out concerns with the crop and maintaining that smoking weed is not a big deal. He explained how his grandfather allegedly smoked cannabis his entire life with no adverse health effects, such as even doctors being encouraged to “make a puff” before examining him.

“Smoking, people smoke; it is not a big deal. My grandfather used to smoke weed, and he never became sick, and if doctors came to examine him, he would tell the doctor, ‘Before you examine me, just make a puff, and you will be okay’,” Wajakoya asserted.

The bold lawyer and former presidential hopeful also reaffirmed his commitment to vigorously championing commercial hemp cultivation should he become the next president in 2027. Wajakoya singled out the Galana Kulalu project and said that only 200,000 acres of the one-million-acre project would be sufficient for large-scale growing of hemp.

“I will be a benevolent dictator. If you look at Galana Kulalu, it is 1 million acres. I want 200,000 acres. 50 kg of hemp is 307 million US dollars. If you have one acre, we can plant, harvest, export, get the money, pay off the debts, and put our infrastructure in order,” he added.

Wajackoyah’s comeback to the political arena also brings back memories of several controversial plans that affected his 2022 presidential campaign.

In addition to the legalisation of cannabis, he previously proposed that Kenya could also be a commercial producer of snakes to be used in snake farming for the purpose of obtaining snake venom because it is a valuable by-product in industries. In his battle against corruption, he also suggested cutting the number of counties, farming hyenas for export, and hanging corrupt officials.

Wajackoyah proposes death penalty for corruption

The outspoken lawyer has further stepped up his hardline anti-corruption policies, stating that his government would impose the death penalty on corrupt officials. Comparing the situation in Kenya with that in other countries like China and Somaliland, Wajackoyah insisted that harsh punishment would be necessary to eradicate graft in Kenya.

‘On corruption, we are introducing the death penalty in Somaliland. You can leave your money and come back and get it. In China, if you are found bribing somebody, you will be tried; if you are found guilty, you will be sentenced to death,” he said.

He also lambasted the wide-ranging government system, claiming that some leaders who are on trial have been using government bodies to cleanse their records.

“Look at what happened when the broad-based government came in; some of those people are criminals, and they had matters pending before the court. Then you find them going to EACC to get clearance. Since when did EACC start clearing people in this country? It is the law courts,” he said.