Retired Chief Justice David Maraga has appealed to Kenyans to support his 2027 presidential bid not based on ethnic or party loyalty but by funding critical logistical expenses during the campaign period.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Wednesday night, June 18, 2025, Maraga disclosed that, at the appropriate time, he would formally appeal to Kenyans to contribute toward those logistical costs.
In addition, the former CJ stated that he would not require funds to distribute money in exchange for votes, calling such vote‑buying an irregularity that must be ended.
“I’m going to make an appeal at the appropriate time for Kenyans to fund me for logistical expenses,” Maraga said.
“I will not require funds to dish out for people to vote for me to become president because that is an irregularity; those are among the irregularities that we should sort out.”
Maraga on ethnicity
The former CJ further appealed to Kenyans against tribal voting, emphasising that the politics of ethnicity had brought the nation to its current state.
He added that if citizens focused on the real challenges and assessed who was capable of addressing Kenya’s crises, the country would make progress. He expressed his conviction that Kenyans have reached a point where ethnic-based politics will no longer work.
“I want to appeal to Kenyans; this politics of ethnicity is what has brought us to where we are, but if we were to face issues and look at who can deal with the crisis that is there in the country, I think we will move from there and I am convinced Kenyans have reached a stage where the politics of ethnicity is not going to work,” he added.
Additionally, Maraga said that youth have expressed fatigue with ethnic-based politics, adding that he trusts Kenyans this time around will not be balkanised into ethnic groups but will instead focus on the issues facing the country and vote accordingly
“Our young people have said they are tired of political ethnicity. I trust Kenyans this time round are not going to be balkanised into ethnic groups; they are going to look at the issues affecting the country and vote accordingly,” he said.
Presidential bid
This appeal comes shortly after he officially announced his 2027 presidential bid.
According to Maraga, the decision to run for the presidency came after discussions with friends and others, with him claiming that he made up his mind after serious reflection.
“This has come as a result of what has happened in the country. You are a parent, and many others are also parents; to see the young people being handled the way they have been handled is something that is extremely worrying. After discussions with friends and others, and after a serious reflection, I thought it was time that we think about the leadership of this country. We can’t let some people literally throw our country to the dogs. We need to think about that seriously, and it is as a result of that reflection that I have made up my mind that I will run in 2027 for the presidency of this country,” Maraga said.
