Life can be a difficult teacher. For some, survival comes through opportunity. For others, it comes through choices made in moments of hardship.
It is within these uncomfortable conversations that Prof George Wajackoyah once again finds himself challenging society to rethink issues many prefer to avoid.
Speaking on the Mic Cheque Podcast, hosted by Chaxy, the politician and lawyer opened up about his experiences as a student in the United Kingdom and his long-standing views on regulating industries that are often viewed negatively by society.
Wajackoyah said financial hardship during his university years forced him and other students to find unconventional ways to survive.
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According to him, he met students from Poland who were also struggling financially at the time.
“That is a way of making a living. I was a university student, and I didn’t have the money to pay fees.”
He explained that he and some Nigerian students came together to create a business model they believed would help them survive.
“We decided on how we were going to survive. Survival of the fittest. We opened up a business to do what we could do to survive.”
He also recalled reconnecting years later with one of the women he had known during that period.
“Apparently, one of the girls who was the leader later became the Minister of Education in Poland when she got married,” he said.
Calling for Protection Instead of Stigma
Wajackoyah used the conversation to advocate for the regulation of sex work, arguing that many women enter the industry to support themselves and their families.
He said society should stop stigmatising them.
“I hate calling people prostitutes. Those are mothers.”
He added that many women experience violence and exploitation and would benefit from legal protections.
“Let’s protect this industry. Let’s open proper processes, let people do business, and let’s train them and provide proper care for them.”
Related Debate: Cannabis Legalisation
Wajackoyah also reiterated his long-held position on legalising cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
“Just like I’m saying for weed, we commercialise weed for industrial purposes and health purposes.”
His remarks come amid ongoing debates in Kenya about whether cannabis should be legalised under strict regulation.
Supporters argue it could create jobs and boost the economy, while opponents continue to raise concerns about public health and misuse.
A Conversation That Continues to Divide Opinion
Wajackoyah has built a reputation for challenging conventional thinking and introducing controversial policy proposals.
His latest remarks have once again sparked debate around survival, poverty, regulation, and whether governments should focus on criminalising certain activities or creating safer systems for people who depend on them to earn a living.
