Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has appointed Vinod Ramji after fallout with his running mate Justina Wamae.
Additionally appointed are Janet Akinyi Odhiambo, who will serve as the deputy national chairperson, and Naran Velji Arjan as CEO.
This follows a resolution by the Roots Party National Executive Committee in a meeting held at party head office in Karen.
Few days ago, Roots Party deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae came out to share intrigues behind her public spat with the party leader, Prof. George Wajackoyah.
Wamae says troubles began rocking the party the day she set the record straight on her political affiliation after Wajackoyah was perceived to have endorsed Azimio la Umoja One Kenya’s presidential candidates, Raila Odinga.
That was on August 3 and Wamae came out to say the Roots Party boss had indeed endorsed Odinga’s candidature.
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Wamae also added that she was not consulted in the making of the decision, further stating that if asked to follow suit, then she would support the contrary.
“It is true the allegations that my principal and party leader are supporting Azimio, but we have not discussed that as a party; we have not agreed, neither have I been consulted,” she said in one of the local media house.
In an interview with KTN News, Wamae revealed that Wajackoyah blocked her phone number and they have not spoken since, not even during the voting day on August 9 and throughout the tallying exercise.
“Before I did the public statement on the contrary. That was on August 3 and it is the last time we spoke on the phone. We were together at Bomas,” she said.
“In person we speak but on the phone we don’t because he blocked me. We have not spoken to him directly, but we have other people who handled the votes, our agents.”
However, on August 15, the Roots Party summoned Wamae for a disciplinary hearing on grounds of misrepresenting the party during the election period.
Among the accusations levelled at her was making contradictory and malicious statements about the party in both mainstream media and social media.
Roots Party legal director Washika Wachira accused Wamae of having repeatedly misrepresented the party’s and the party leader’s positions, including claiming that Prof.
Wajackoyah is an Azimio mole
Wajackoyah had endorsed the candidature of Azimio la Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga.
He also cited a tweet from Justina on August 19 in which she congratulated President-elect William Ruto and attacked the Roots party, saying, in part, “That votes were stolen is simply preposterous when I see some parties like Roots Party, who as a member I can confidently say we were disorganised in regards to agents’ mobilisations.”
Wamae however trashed the summon as mere “pettiness” and said she would not honour it but instead “soldier on.”
She further denied claims that she was given accommodation and an official party vehicle during the campaign.
“I will not respond to pettiness. But on the non-existent accommodation and car you ‘imagined’ you ‘assisted’ me with you can withdraw in your DREAMS. It is your party do what you deem fit, I will soldier on,” she tweeted.
