Presidential Aspirant George Wajackoyah Sets Record Straight on British Citizenship
Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah has spoken out after questions were raised about his citizenship.
Former presidential aspirant Peter Gichira wrote to the British High Commission in Nairobi seeking clarification over the exact status of Wajackoyah’s nationality.
Through his lawyer Gachie Mwanza, Gichira noted that Wajackoyah has openly indicated that he had at one time expressed interest in a parliamentary seat in the UK, and wants to know whether he is eligible to vie now that he has been cleared by IEBC to run for the presidency in the August 9th elections.
“It has come to the attention of our client through various sources that the said candidate at one time was a prospective candidate and vied for a seat for a member of parliament in the United Kingdom specifically Tottenham before he was disqualified through various media addresses,” reads the letter to the British embassy.
He argues that one can only seek to be elected in the UK if he or she is a British citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a citizen of a commonwealth country who does not require leave to enter or remain in the UK or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
“We do write on behalf of our client to get clear clarification and confirmation on whether the above named candidate is still a registered British Citizen, and if so, has he ever renounced such citizenship rights thus making him eligible to vie for the tip seat in the republic of Kenya,” adds the letter.
Speaking to NTV on Wednesday, Wajackoyah insisted that he only has Kenyan citizenship and did not need one to be able to live in the UK.
"I have never changed my citizenship. They just ought to go to the internet and google. They are wasting their time to go to the British Embassy. Nobody is deporting me because I am a Kenyan, born in Kenya with very high epistemology in terms of academia," said Wajackoyah.
He added: "I have been outside the country, living indefinitely in a country doesn't necessarily mean you have to be a citizen. These circuses need to read before they write they are wasting their time."