NAIROBI — Former Chief Justice David Maraga has announced his plans to run for president in 2027, promising a campaign fuelled not by the wealth of elites but by the pockets of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Explainer Show on Tuesday night, Maraga told host Yvonne Okwara that he would rely on small contributions starting from as little as Ksh.50 from supporters across the country.
“I will appeal to Kenyans to contribute to the campaigns,” he said. “I’ll put in very little money, around Ksh.1 million or Ksh.2 million. I don’t have much money.”
Maraga, who served as Kenya’s 14th Chief Justice between 2016 and 2021, said his campaign would be built on transparency and the goodwill of citizens seeking real change.
“With the suffering Kenyans have gone through, I’m sure we’ll get Ksh.50, Ksh.100 from individuals,” he added. “In fact, I’m hoping we’ll get excess and whatever is left, we will give it to a public cause.”
A Clear Rebuke of the Current Government
Maraga did not hold back in his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration. He accused the current regime of rewarding political loyalty over merit and warned that this practice was fuelling widespread incompetence.
“Quite a number of people are in positions they are least qualified for,” he said. “Their aim is not to serve but to benefit themselves and those in power.”
He promised, if elected, to appoint only qualified individuals and give them full autonomy to work in the best interest of the country.
“I am going to have officers who are competent in their respective areas and allow them to work,” Maraga said. “Impunity has reached the highest level it has ever been in this country.”
Rule of Law Starting from the Top
As Chief Justice, Maraga earned praise for his commitment to constitutionalism, notably annulling the 2017 presidential election results. In his presidential bid, he is once again making the rule of law a central theme.
“Everybody will have to obey the law, starting with me,” he said.
His comments come amid growing public frustration with corruption, favouritism and security crackdowns on anti-government protests.
On Protests and Dialogue
Maraga weighed in on recent youth-led protests, saying he would have handled the unrest through dialogue, not violence.
“I would engage the people, especially the youth. I would listen,” he said.
He distanced himself from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s calls for a “national conclave,” saying past dialogues had mostly benefited political elites and ignored grassroots concerns.
“We’ve had dialogues in the past and they’ve hardly gone to the root cause of the problems,” Maraga said. “To say that the government will set the agenda of the dialogue, that’s a joke.”
Instead, he called for a “people-oriented” approach, insisting that Kenya needs a bottom-up conversation not just another top-down forum.
A Modest Bid for the Highest Office
With just Ksh.1–2 million of his own savings earmarked for the campaign, Maraga’s strategy will rely heavily on small donations. Whether this “Wanjiku presidency” model will gain traction in a political system long dominated by money and alliances remains to be seen.
Still, his message is striking in its simplicity. He’s asking Kenyans for trust and their coins.
“I am listening to Kenyans, to professionals, to people in education,” he said. “They are not being given an opportunity to run things. That must change.”
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