Wajackoyah proposes shifting Kenya’s capital to Isiolo, relocating Parliament to Nakuru
Wajackoyah says the current location of Nairobi was a mistake by colonial authorities who built the city on swampy ground.
Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has called for relocating Kenya’s capital from Nairobi to Isiolo, arguing that the city is sinking due to its swampy foundation and is no longer suitable as the country’s political and economic centre.
Speaking during an interview on TV47’s Daily Report on Monday, June 9, Wajackoyah said the current location of Nairobi was a mistake by colonial authorities who built the city on swampy ground.
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“Nairobi City is sinking because it was built on a swamp. My proposal is let’s go and open up a new city in Isiolo, because of Isiolo’s proximity to Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and the Southern Corridor,” he said.
The former presidential candidate, known for his 2022 campaign that proposed exporting marijuana, snake venom and hyenas’ testicles, is once again making headlines with his unorthodox ideas.
Though he only managed 61,969 votes in the last general election, Wajackoyah maintains that he was unfairly denied a stronger showing.
Strategic location
According to him, Isiolo's location offers a strategic advantage for regional trade and agriculture.
“Based on this strategic location of Isiolo, we shall expand and then export agricultural produce from the mountain, straight to the airport, then boom! And then we shall plan the city correctly. Nairobi is sinking, and I will be a dictator on that issue," Wajackoya added.
While his statement may appear exaggerated, scientific research supports some of his concerns.
A study led by Pius Kirui, Samson Oiro and Hunja Waithaka, among others, notes signs of land subsidence in Nairobi.
Sinking
The findings, shared by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, show that parts of the city, especially in the west and northwest, are sinking at a rate of up to 62 millimetres per year.
The study links this to overuse of groundwater and rapid urbanisation, contributing to regular flooding in some areas.
Wajackoyah’s vision doesn’t stop at moving the capital. He also wants Parliament relocated, suggesting Nakuru as a possible site.
“Parliament will also have to move away from Nairobi so that we can take it to, maybe, Nakuru,” he said.
He argued that decentralising government institutions would unlock the benefits of devolution and spur development across the country.
“In this way, we can do proper devolution like what Tanzanians have done with Dodoma, Nigerians have done it with Abuja, and the US is creating new cities. In this way, we can actually urbanise other areas that are lagging,” the Roots Party leader said.
As the 2027 elections approach, Wajackoyah is once again drawing public attention with his unconventional ideas, determined to reshape the country in ways he believes will unlock its potential.
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