The Only 3 Billionaires Funding Raila's Campaign

The NASA campaign team has in the recent weeks come under scrutiny after they sought public funding through an Mpesa Paybill number.

The request made by NASA leader Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka was interpreted as a confirmation of the financial troubles facing the Opposition camp ahead of the October 17 polls.

Unlike their Jubilee competitors, the Opposition has a relatively small pool of billionaires who have publicly supported their campaigns.

Here are the three Individuals:

Jimmy Wanjigi

The son of former minister Maina Wanjigi is Odinga’s most prominent financier.

Jimmy switched to NASA after falling out with Jubilee where he had actively funded and strategized for his former schoolmate at St Mary High School and now President, Uhuru Kenyatta.

The controversial businessman owns the multi-billion company Kwacha Group, an investment vehicle with significant shareholding in most of the blue chip companies listed at the NSE.

Jimmy is also reported to own the posh Caramel Restaurant as well as other local and international businesses.

Johnstone Muthama

The former Machakos Senator is a critical member of the NASA team where he not only deputizes the Presidential Campaign team, but is also an active financier.

Muthama started out as an errand boy in the lucrative Taita mining hills before rising to one of Kenya’s most successful gemstone and ruby dealers.

The ex-senator also has vast interests in the real estate industry. He is the landlord to several embassies and in the recent past made Sh350 Million when he sold one of his houses in Runda to the Judiciary.

The house was meant to serve as the official residence to Kenya’s Chief Justice.

Evans Kidero

The former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has in the past stated that he would not shy from using his vast resources in campaigning for his party’s presidential candidate.

After the nullification of the Presidential elections, the former Governor headed a critical strategy meeting meant to plan Odinga’s campaign in the repeat elections.

Kidero made his wealthy as executive for blue chip companies and is an active real estate investor with property in upmarket areas such as Upperhill, Kitsuru, Hurlingham, among others.

Apart from the Kidero, Muthama, and Wanjigi, it is likely that many other billionaire businessmen have made financial contributions without publicly associating with the NASA team.