'We have not and will not,' Wajackoyah denies endorsing Raila

Roots Party presidential candidate Prof. George Wajackoyah has denied reports that he is supporting Azimio la Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga for the presidency.

In a statement by the Roots Party Spokesperson Jaymo Ule Msee, Wajackoyah said his remarks in a viral video were misinterpreted by the media to appear like an endorsement of the ODM party leader.

“Our attention has been drawn to a viral video clip showing our Presidential Candidate Prof George Wajackoya on the campaign trail addressing his supporters at an entertainment joint,” Jaymo Ule Msee stated on Wednesday.

“Whereas our party leader addressed his supporters and accorded the other three presidential candidates some level of respect, the biased Media has doctored the clip to suit and push their candidate, Raila Odinga.”

Wajackoyah’s party went ahead to say that its candidate is in the presidential race to the end and will be on the ballot on August 9.

“We would like to categorically state that we have a presidential candidate who is on the Ballot and will win this Election. We have not and will not endorse any other candidate,” the statement further read.

In the video that surfaced on social media platforms on Wednesday, Wajackoyah was addressingsupporters in a club where he referred to Odinga as a liberator.

"Because of that, man (Raila). The man whose tears come out every day because of what happened to him in jail, including me. I am here to join liberators. And the person I look at, the person who makes me stand here is none other than Raila Odinga," Wajackoyah said.

Speaking to Citizen Digital Wednesday evening, Jaymo explained that the clip was taken out of context and that Wajackoyah was in a club in Kisumu - which is seen as Odinga’s backyard - and thus had to use such political tactics to woo his supporters.

In his past campaigns, Wajackoyah has been seen to use such political antics, portraying him as an ‘Odinga project’.

Then, he explained that he talked highly of Raila to woo the Nyanza people.

"I was in Raila's backyard and people have been stoned there. And when you saw me sleeping on the car I was dreaming. In my dream I was talking to Raila asking him 'I'm in your backyard, what do I do'...and he told me that he is pushing me to be the president," he told NTV regarding a rally in Kondele where he appeared to support Odinga.