From $0 to People Power: Why I Need You in the Kiama By-Election

When I first decided to run in the Kiama by-election, there were plenty of reasons why I was told not to bother. I don’t live in Kiama. I don’t have donors, glossy brochures, or the machinery of the major parties. On paper, it should have been impossible.

But over the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing something else: there are thousands of people who want me on the ballot, and thousands more who see me as a serious alternative. For that, I am deeply grateful. I had hoped my message would resonate with some — but I didn’t expect it to reach so many. It shows me how deeply people have lost faith in politics, and how hungry they are for humanity and authenticity to be brought back into government.

There have even been whispers that I might be polling well. If that’s true, it’s humbling — but it’s also a responsibility. I don’t want to disappoint the people who want me to succeed by relying only on the articles I’ve been publishing since the beginning of the year. Words alone aren’t enough. There are still undecided voters out there who don’t know my story, who aren’t online, or who haven’t come across my work. And it would be a tragedy to lose simply because we didn’t reach them in time.

That’s why I’m asking for help. Campaigns typically run on huge budgets. They pay for:

• door-to-door conversations
• leaflets and flyers in letterboxes
• yard signs and posters
• volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards at polling places
• appearances at forums and community events
• paid ads in local newspapers
• targeted digital campaigns on Facebook and other platforms
• volunteer coordinators keeping everything organised

Right now, my campaign fund is $0. That means every flyer, every poster, every ad only happens if ordinary people step up. Unlike the major parties, I don’t have donors pulling strings. This campaign will rise or fall on people power alone.

What I have is you. If you’ve ever thought about how you could make a difference, this is your chance to step into one of those roles.

Yes, I’m based in Mascot right now — but this campaign has never been about where I sleep at night. It’s about who I stand for during the day: the people of Kiama.

This year has been extraordinary for me. After everything I’ve gone through, just being alive and in good health is already a victory. If I look tired or less polished than some of the other candidates, it’s not because I don’t want this — it’s because I already see it differently. For me, winning this seat would be the ultimate validation of our shared message. But the real win has already happened: we have exposed a system that is corrupt, untrustworthy, and morally bankrupt. We have shown that the game is rigged against the average Australian. That impact cannot be undone.

So when I ask for your help, it’s not because I need a title. It’s because together we can make that impact permanent and show that real change is possible.

If you’ve ever complained about politics, this is your chance to do something about it. I’ve taken it as far as I can alone. Now I need you.

And if I don’t hear from anyone, or if no donations come in, I’ll just have to assume you’re confident I’m already headed for a landslide. Either way, I’m grateful.

But if you know, like I do, that change doesn’t happen by itself, then now is the time to step up.

Together, we can turn belief into action.

CTA

I’m running as an independent candidate for Kiama because I owe nothing to donors — only to my community.

If you’d like to support this campaign: Donate securely

NSW: max $1,000 per donor per year; eligibility rules apply; receipts emailed automatically; donations are not tax-deductible.

Volunteer, donate, or learn more at luciferjeufo.com.au, or read more of my writing on Medium and Substack.

Authorised by Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu, 3 Wentworth Avenue, Mascot, NSW 2020.