Political analyst Herman Manyora has stated that former Chief Justice David Maraga is the only individual who could be elected in 2027 without relying on vast financial resources.

Speaking on his channel in a video aired on Friday, August 20, 2025, he noted that any candidate with less than Ksh10 billion should leave the race to Maraga since he is the only one capable of winning without money, with Kenyans still willing to campaign for him.

“I want to tell the opposition, Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Natembeya, unless you are Maraga, because Maraga has come out on a platform of people doing the campaign, so money is not important, but for the other ones, money is important, and it will be big money,” Manyora states.

“But the problem is not money; they can have money. Gachagua can raise money; the problem, and I have said it before, is the capacity to spend that money.”

Advice to opposition

He urged the opposition leaders, including Gachagua, Musyoka, Wamalwa, and Natembeya, to understand that unless they are Maraga, money will be a critical factor in their campaigns.

According to him, Maraga has already emerged as a candidate whose support base is driven by the people rather than finances, making him unique.

Manyora explained that the challenge is not simply raising funds, as leaders like Gachagua can mobilise money, but the real test lies in the capacity to spend it effectively. He emphasised that a presidential race requires massive resources, pointing out that some politicians raise money but fail to spend it strategically.

Ruto’s re-election worry

He further observed that, given the stakes surrounding President William Ruto’s re-election bid and the level of opposition he faces, Ruto is likely to marshal significant resources.

Opposition candidates, he said, may not match that, but they would still need to raise at least Ksh10–15 billion to remain competitive. Without such resources, they should step aside for Maraga or even Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who enjoy unique public appeal.

In conclusion, he stated that Maraga remains the only figure Kenyans would vote for without money, while Omtatah and Edwin Sifuna also attract support from those who prioritise integrity and leadership over financial muscle.

He regretted that politics in Kenya has been reduced to money-driven campaigns but maintained that his position reflects the pragmatic reality of the current political landscape.

“Maraga is the only person people will vote for without money; Maraga, Omtatah and Sifuna, since people are buying into Maraga’s campaign and they are not talking about money. If anything, they are the ones who will raise money. It’s so unfortunate that we have to reduce our campaign to money, but I am just being pragmatic,” he added.