Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga is banking on wellwishing Kenyans to fund his 2027 presidential campaign, saying he hopes to lead a modest, people-powered movement to succeed President William Ruto.
In an interview with Citizen TV on July 15, Maraga said he would personally contribute only Ksh1 million to Ksh2 million, relying heavily on the goodwill of Kenyans to bankroll his campaign.
“I will appeal to Kenyans to contribute to the campaigns. I’ll put in very little money, around Ksh1 million or Ksh2 million. I don’t have much money,” Maraga said.
“With the suffering Kenyans have gone through, I’m sure we’ll get Ksh50, Ksh100 from individuals. I’m hoping we’ll get excess, and whatever is left, we will give it to a public cause,” he added.
Maraga pledged to form a government rooted in professionalism and merit, stressing that every public official under his administration must obey the law and deliver results.
“In my administration, I will make it very clear and I’m making it clear from now that everybody will have to obey the law, starting with me.”
Maraga also took issue with the government’s state’s heavy-handed response to recent Gen Z-led protests, condemning the use of force on peaceful demonstrators and the labeling of youth activists as “terrorists.” He said he would have opted for a more people-centred and empathetic approach had he been in power.
“We need this country to return to the rule of law,” he said.
“The youth were exercising their constitutional right. They should be protected, not abducted or killed.”
On national dialogue efforts, Maraga backed Raila Odinga’s call but on one condition: the process must be led by the people, not political elites.
“We’ve had dialogues in the past that have not addressed the root causes. It must be people-oriented and not just about positions,” he remarked.
