The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has raised concerns over what it terms as the continued refusal by National Treasury and Parliament to comply with the law on political party funding.
According to the party, the Treasury has failed to release monies owed to ODM, a debt that the outfit now places at Ksh12.6 billion.
Following a Central Committee meeting held on Thursday, ODM resolved to take legal action against the Treasury to recover the amount.
The committee noted that the funds are a legal entitlement under the Political Parties Fund and that failure to release them has strained the party’s financial obligations.
''Of concern, however, is the continued refusal by the National Treasury and Parliament to comply with the law on Political Party funding, and failure to settle the debt owed to ODM, which now stands at a whopping Ksh12.6 billion. The committee has resolved to explore execution proceedings against the National Treasury for the recovery of this amount,'' read part of the statement from ODM signed by its Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
Meanwhile, the committee lauded its National Treasurer and the Secretariat for their prudent management of the party’s resources despite the financial setbacks, further adopting the financial report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
By-elections
In addition, the committee reviewed the party’s recent branch and county elections and announced plans to field candidates in the upcoming November 27 by-elections in most of the elective constituencies.
The party also announced that it will receive applications from the affected constituencies, except for Magarini Constituency and Fafi Ward, where it proposed to issue direct tickets to the party's 2022 candidates.
''The Central Committee resolved that ODM will field candidates in the forthcoming by-elections scheduled for November 27, 2025, in all but seven of the 23 electoral areas,'' the party added.
''The NECC has been directed to invite applications from candidates in those areas, except for Magarini Constituency and Fafi Ward, where it is proposed to issue direct tickets to our 2022 candidates.''
ODM revealed that it will conduct repeat elections in Busia and Kakamega counties on August 29 and September 1 as it works to resolve the cases of six counties whose elections are under appeal.
This comes after the party announced the suspension of the Busia elections indefinitely. In a statement on Thursday, August 21, the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) chairperson, Emily Awita, said that the elections, which were scheduled for Monday, August 25, have been postponed until further notice.
