Independent candidate Robert Riaga Ajwang, popularly known as Money Bior, has expressed deep regret over splashing KSh 40 million on his Kasipul by-election campaign only to secure a meagre 519 votes, a figure that has become the butt of jokes across social media.
The flashy businessman-turned-politician aired his frustrations during a candid interview on a local radio station on Monday morning, vowing nonetheless to dig deeper into his pockets for another KSh 40 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Kasipul by-election, triggered by the death of the late MP Ong’ondo Were in a road shooting incident, drew national attention not just for its youth turnout but for the wild spending tales that emerged post-results.
Money Bior, a 42-year-old real estate developer from Oyugis town, entered the race as an outsider betting on his wealth and charisma to sway voters weary of party politics. He crisscrossed the constituency in a fleet of luxury SUVs, hosting lavish barbecues, distributing branded T-shirts, and even flying in a private chopper for dramatic entrances at rallies.
“It’s sad that I spent KSh 40 million only to end up with 500 votes,” Money Bior said, rounding down his actual tally of 519 for emphasis. “Anyway, in 2027 I’ll also look for another KSh 40 million to give them again.” His tone mixed sarcasm with resolve, but the disappointment was palpable when he delved deeper.
“I was very disappointed, and I can’t trust electorates again. Wanaimba ni mimi ni mimi, lakini kura ikikuja napata kura kama marks ya KCPE,” he lamented, likening his vote count to the dismal scores some pupils get in the national primary exams.
The quip about KCPE marks, Kenya’s infamous eight-four-four system benchmark, struck a chord online, spawning memes that portrayed Bior as a heartbroken suitor rejected at the altar of democracy.
Election observers confirmed that the by-election cost taxpayers KSh 150 million overall, with candidates collectively spending upwards of KSh 200 million on logistics, voter mobilisation, and what critics call “buying loyalty”. Money Bior’s figure stands out as the highest self-reported, dwarfing even the winner’s outlay.
ODM’s Boyd Were, a 28-year-old Gen Z lawyer and son of the late MP, clinched victory with 14,200 votes, capitalising on party machinery and a fresh anti-corruption message that resonated with urban youth in Rarieda and Kasipul wards.
Political analysts say the Money Bior 40 million 500 votes saga shows a growing disconnect between big-money aspirants and grassroots realities in Homa Bay County. “Voters here are tired of handouts that vanish post-polls.
They want leaders who address flooding in Nyahera and youth unemployment in Oyugis,” said a lecturer at Maseno University. She pointed to Bior’s campaign as a textbook case of over-reliance on spectacle over substance, noting his billboards promised “Money for Development” but lacked specifics on farming subsidies or market access for Luo Nyanza farmers.
Bior’s camp defends the investment as seed money for long-term influence. In a follow-up statement shared on his Facebook page, the candidate clarified that much of the KSh 40 million went to legitimate expenses like hiring 200 agents, printing 50,000 flyers, and community projects like borehole drilling in remote villages.
“I didn’t buy votes; I built hope. The 519 who stood with me are my foundation for 2027,” he said, attaching receipts for fuel and venue hires to counter graft accusations.
Reactions from fellow contestants ranged from sympathy to schadenfreude. UDA’s Charles Ong’ondo, who polled third with 2,100 votes, called Bior a “generous brother” but advised dialling back the extravagance. “Money talks, but in Luo land, it whispers through culture and kinship,” Ong’ondo told reporters outside the Homa Bay tallying centre. Meanwhile, netizens roasted Bior relentlessly, with one viral post reading: “KSh 40M for 519 votes? That’s KSh 77,000 per vote. My KCPE was cheaper!”
As Homa Bay heals from the poll fever, the Money Bior 40 million 500 votes episode has reignited calls for campaign finance reforms.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission announced it would probe all major spenders for potential vote-buying, while MPs in Nairobi debate capping expenditures at KSh 10 million per seat. For Bior, the sting of defeat lingers, but his unshakeable optimism hints at a comeback scripted with even bolder strokes.
In the end, this by-election tale reminds Kenya that democracy’s price tag keeps rising, yet true power lies not in wallets but in the quiet conviction of those 519 voters who saw beyond the shine. Whether Bior’s next KSh 40 million yields a different score remains one of 2027’s juiciest subplots.
