• Four presidential candidates were cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to contest at the August 9 general election.
• They are George Wajackoyah of Roots Party, Raila Odinga of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party and William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance, UDA.
Image: THE STAR
Four presidential candidates were cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to contest at the August 9 general election.
They are George Wajackoyah of Roots Party, Raila Odinga of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party and William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance, UDA.
The Star fact check desk did a backgroud check and brings you profiles of the four flag-bearers.
GEORGE WAJACKOYAH
Early Life
George Luchiri Wajackoyah was born on 24 October 1959 in Jinja Uganda to Tom Olilo Jakoya and Melenia Makhoha. Despite being born in Uganda, George is Kenyan since both parents were Kenyans.
Wajackoyah grew up in Indangalasia village in West Wanga, Mumias, Kakamega County, Kenya. This was also the village where the dad was born and raised.
George’s parents divorced when he was young and therefore remained under the care of his paternal grandparents. The mother moved away from the matrimonial home, while the father moved back to Uganda and remarried there.
At age 16, George stowed away to Nairobi and stayed in the streets until he was rescued by the Hari Krishna who gave him and other street children shelter.
He converted to Hare Krishna and later became Krishna Balaram. He was given a chance to continue his education, joining St.Peter’s Boys High School in Mumias where he sat for his A level exams in 1980.
Education
2020: MPhil - Walden University
2018: Ph.D - Candidate Walden University
2014: Post Graduate Diploma in Law - Kenya School of Law
2006: Honoris Causa - American Heritage University
2006: Master of Laws (U.S. Law) - University of Baltimore
2002: L P C (2000-2001) - University of Westminster
1998: Masters of Laws in Law in Development - University of Warwick
1996: Bachelor of Laws (Hons) - University of Wolverhampton.
1984: Intelligence & National Security - Criminal Inv. Training School
1984: Inspectorate Course - Kenya Police College, Kiganjo
1983: Recruit Trainee - Kenya Police College, Kiganjo
1982: High School Teacher - Ravals Secondary School
City High School
Shikoti High School
1981: A-Levels - St. Peter’s Boys High School-Mumias
1979: High School - City High School
Source: Law Firm website
https://www.luchiriadvocates.co.ke/attorneys/details/1
Career
George Wajackoyah started his professional career in the Police force as a recruit constable having graduated from Kiganjo Police Training College. He would rise to the Inspectorate rank
In 1990, the Police Service placed him in charge of collecting intelligence on the death of the late Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko. Things however turned south as he was later arrested, detained and tortured almost to the point of losing his eyesight.
George relocated to the UK, where to fund his Degree of Law studies, he resorted to digging graves and working as a security guard.
He would then practice law in the UK for two decades.
George relocated to the US for further studies (he enrolled on an LLM programme at the University of Baltimore). During this time, he worked in the USA as an educationist, whereby he was an adjunct professor of law at the American Heritage University of Southern California
In 2010, Wajackoyah returned to Kenya and established his law firm called Luchiri & Co. Advocates
As of 2022, Wajackoyah is a Faculty Member at the Institute of Migration at the University of Nairobi and is a law lecturer teaching International Law at the United States International University - Africa
Practice
Immigration and Refugee Law in Kenya, UK, USA
Taught law in Kenya and the US
Served in the Kenya Police up to rank of Inspector and police trainer
Source: Law Firm website
https://www.luchiriadvocates.co.ke/attorneys/details/1
LSK Profile Page
DAVID MWAURE WAIHIGA
David Mwaure Waihiga is a Kenyan lawyer and an ordained minister. He is best known as the managing partner and founder of Mwaure & Mwaure Waihiga and Co. Advocates with 35 years of legal experience.
Family Background
Mwaure is married to Anna Ngibuini Mwaure who is a Lady Justice in Kenya's Employment and Labour Relations Court. She is also the co-founder of the Mwaure & Mwaure Waihiga and Co. Advocates firm.
Together they have 3 children; Waihiga Mwaura (Citizen TV news anchor), Ngibuini Mwaura, the late Lil Gathoni Mwaura (died in April 2022).
Party: Agano Party, founded 2006 (Chairman and founder)
Education
Mwaure Waihiga graduated with a degree in bachelors of Law from Nairobi University in 1981. He also has a Master’s Degree in Leadership from the International Leadership University. He is currently pursuing a PHD in Leadership.
Career:
Mwaure co-founded Mwaure & Mwaure Waihiga & Co Advocates after practicing law for several years. The law firm has its offices in Lamu, Kenya.
Waihiga has over 35 years of experience in legal practice. He has used his expertise in law to become an arbitrator, mediator, commissioner of oaths, notary public, and public secretary. Furthermore, he became a Senior Counsel in Kenya, an enviable rank in Kenya's legal profession.
Note:
In 2016, he applied to become a Supreme Court Judge in Kenya and was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission but was not considered. He also applied for a Court of Appeal Judge in 2022 but never got the job.
Political Career:
· In 2006, Mwaure founded the Agano Party
· In 2011, Mwaure unsuccessfully contested in the Kamukunji parliamentary by-election using the Agano Party
· Mwaure announced his intention to vie for the Presidency in 2013, on 25th October 2010. He however dropped out of the race and instead went for the Gubernatorial race of Lamu County in 2013. He would loose the election to the eventual winner Issa Timamy.
· In 2021, Waihiga took another shot at becoming an elected official in Kenya. His Agano Party endorsed him to contest for the Nairobi Gubernatorial seat that had fallen vacant after the ouster of Governor Mike Mbuvi. However, the race did not go to the ballot after months of court cases.
Lawyer
Firm: MWAURE & MWAURE WAIHIGA & CO. ADVOCATES
Graduated in 1981 from UoN with Law Degree
Profile page at Law Society of Kenya
He is not on the Senior Counsel list
He is also an ordained minister. This profile says Word Changers Church
WILLIAM SAMOE RUTO
Bio
Dr. William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto or simply known as William Ruto is the 11th second in command to the Kenyan Presidency. He is also the first to hold the title of Deputy President.
Ruto was born on 21st December 1966 to Daniel and Sarah Cheruiyot in Sambut village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County.
Education
William attended Kerotet Primary School for his primary school education.
He then attended Wareng Secondary School for O Level Education.
He proceeded to Kapsabet High School where he sat his A level exams.
Ruto joined Nairobi University where he studied Bsc in Botany and Zoology graduating in 1990
Ruto later enrolled for an Msc In Plant Ecology, graduating in 2011.
He then enrolled for a PHD graduating in 2018. The title of his thesis was entitled; Influence of Anthropogenic Activities on Land Use/Cover Changes and Environmental Quality of Saiwa Wetland Watershed, Western Kenya.
Political Career
2008 → 4th March 2013 - Member of Parliament for Eldoret North
2007 → January 2013 - Member, Orange Democratic Movement
2011 → 4th December 2012 - Aspirant President
April 2010 → October 2011 -Minister for Higher Education, Science & Technology
April 2008 → April 2010 - Minister of Agriculture
Ended October 2007 - Secretary General, Kenya African National Union
2003 → 2007 - Member of Parliament for Eldoret North
1997 → 2007 Member of Parliament for Eldoret North of Kenya African National Union
August 2002 → December 2002 - Minister of Home Affairs
2000 → August 2002 - Assistant minister Office of the President
1997 → 2002 - Member of Parliament for Eldoret North
1992 → 1992 - Treasurer, Youth for KANU 1992
Source: Mzalendo
https://info.mzalendo.com/person/william-ruto/experience/
PhD in watershed management. Photos of thesis defence
RAILA ODINGA
Aspirant President in 2022
Aspirant President in 2017
Contested Election at Supreme Court. Election Annulled by Supreme Court. Boycotted repeat election.
Was sworn in at Uhuru Park as “People’s President”
Aspirant President
2011 → 4th March 2013 for Kenya of REPUBLIC OF KENYA
Member of Parliament
2008 → 4th March 2013 for Langata
Prime Minister
2008 → 4th March 2013 of Cabinet
Member of Parliament
2003 → 2007 for Langata
Member
2002 → 2007 for Langata of National Rainbow Coalition
Minister of Roads & Public Works
2003 → 2005 of Cabinet
Minister of Energy
2001 → 2002 of Cabinet
Member of Parliament
1998 → 2002 for Langata
Party leader
1997 → 2002: Member of Parliament for Lang'ata - National Development Party (NDP)
1993 → 1997 : Member for Lang'ata -NDP
1992 → 1997: Member for Langata - Ford Kenya
BBC Profile
“Raila Odinga is also a former political prisoner, and holds the record for being Kenya's longest-serving detainee.
His struggle against one-party dictatorship saw him detained twice (from 1982 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991) during the rule of Jomo Kenyatta's successor, Daniel arap Moi.
He was initially imprisoned for trying to stage a coup in 1982, which propelled him on to the national stage.”