Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has taken a swipe at retired Chief Justice David Maraga following his recent launch of a fundraising website to support his 2027 presidential campaign.
The outspoken senator dismissed the initiative, saying such strategies were out of touch with how political campaigns are actually run in Kenya.
Speaking on Saturday, July 19, Cherargei criticized Maraga’s approach of asking ordinary Kenyans to contribute money and volunteer their time to boost his political bid.
He described the move as unrealistic and ineffective, especially given the scale of resources required to run a serious presidential campaign in the country.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Cherargei drew parallels with similar advice he gave to Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who has also hinted at running for president.
“Just like I told my brother Omtatah — if you’re thinking of running for President, you need a war chest of at least Ksh7 billion,” Cherargei stated bluntly.
He went further to challenge Maraga’s understanding of Kenyan politics, adding, “Even campaigns for County Assembly seats cannot be run through public fundraisers.
How then can a presidential campaign rely on the same?” According to Cherargei, political campaigns in Kenya are far more complex and financially demanding than Maraga seems to realize.
The senator, who is a close ally of President William Ruto, also mocked the idea of seeking public donations, citing a recent case where politician Morara Kebaso struggled to raise funds just to fuel his car.
“If Morara couldn’t even raise enough for fuel, then what exactly is Maraga looking for — votes or money? There’s a big difference,” Cherargei said, casting doubt on the motive behind the fundraising drive.
Maraga, who officially announced his presidential ambitions on June 18, had launched the donation portal on Friday, July 18. On the site, Kenyans at home and abroad are invited to contribute any amount between Ksh100 and Ksh50,000 — or even more through a custom input.
For those in the diaspora, donation options range from $5 (Ksh647) to $25 (Ksh3,237), with room for higher custom contributions as well.
Aside from financial support, Maraga’s platform also asks for volunteers willing to share their time, ideas, and energy to help build the movement.
He previously admitted he lacks the financial capacity to mount a nationwide campaign on his own and would depend on well-wishers and like-minded citizens.
Despite the criticism, Maraga appears determined to pursue his political dreams, listing the fight against corruption and police brutality as top priorities in his campaign.
However, judging from the response so far, it seems his method of fundraising may continue to attract skepticism from seasoned political players like Cherargei.
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