Wajackoyah's Presidential Running Mate to Run for President in 2027

The 2022 Roots Party presidential candidate Prof George Wajackoyah running mate Justina Wamae has officially entered the 2027 presidential race.

Wamae made the announcement on Sunday, October 25, during the launch of the Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP) in Nairobi, declaring her intention to contest the presidency under the slogan “Inatuhusu”.

“I, Justina Wamae, officially declare my bid for the presidency under the IUP. I was a member of TNA in 2017 and a running mate in 2022, but in both instances I realised I was just a member, without any say,” she said.

Wamae said the party, which received its full registration certificate on October 15, intends to field candidates in all elective positions.

She said she was open to working with like-minded opposition leaders but insisted that any political alliance must be based on shared ideas and an economic agenda rather than the pursuit of power alone.

The businesswoman and politician previously contested the 2022 General Election as the running mate to Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah.

Their ticket garnered 61,969 votes, (equivalent to 0.44 percent of the total vote) in the presidential race. William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) won the presidential ticket with 7,176,141 votes (50.49%), Azimio's Raila Odinga came second with 6,942,930 votes (48.85%) while David Mwaure of Agano Party garnered 31,987 votes, (0.23%) to finish fourth.

Last month, Justina Wamae voluntarily resigned as a member of the Roots Party.

In an update on Thursday, September 22, Wamae mentioned that her role as the deputy presidential running mate in the roots party lapsed with the declaration of William Ruto as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya. 

"I tender my resignation as a member of the Roots Party of Kenya. Kindly accord the ORPP the requirements for my name's prompt removal from your party register," part of the letter by Wamae read. 

This came barely a month after the Roots party kicked Wamae out as its deputy party leader.

In August, Wajackoyah fired his deputy Justina Wamae and replaced her with Yagnik Vinod Ramji a Kenyan businessman and amateur cricketer who plays for Meru Cricket Club in local leagues like Last Man Stands (LMS).

Wamae fell out with the party hierarchy over her utterances to the media which the party deemed to be misrepresenting the party's stand.

In a notice released on Tuesday August 30 the controversial politician also appointed Janet Akinyi Odhiambo as the new deputy national chairperson.

“Following a resolution by Roots Party National Executive Committee, (NEC) in a meeting held at the party head office we confirm the appointment of new party officials,” the notice read.

The move by Wajackoyah came less than a week since he summoned Justina Wamae to a disciplinary hearing.

Wamae was summoned to address allegations that he made conflicting and harmful statements regarding the Roots Party.

According to the statement submitted by Roots Party legal director Washika Wachira, Wamae distorted the party’s principles, including the suggestion that Professor Wajackoyah supported Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Wamae, however, disregarded the summons and claimed that she would not reply to triviality.

In an advertisement seen by Nairobi Leo, Vinod Ramji was appointed as the new Deputy Party Leader.

Wamae fell out with the party hierarchy over his utterances to the media which the party deemed to be misrepresenting the party's stand.

"We refer to the aforementioned matter following a resolution by Roots Party National Executive Committee in a meeting held at the party head office, we confirm the appointment of new party officials," the advertisement read.

But away from her bid for the highest seat in the land, just who is Justina?

Justina is a 35-year-old businesswoman who has been in the excavation industry and supply of building materials.

Justina graduated from Daystar University with a Bachelor's degree in 2010 and has a Master's degree in procurement and logistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Justina first entered politics in 2017, when she unsuccessfully contested for the Mavoko parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, garnering 1,200 votes.

She is married and has a three-year old daughter.

"My husband has given me permission to do this (to be a presidential candidate)," she said.