The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has issued The Star newspaper with a 7-day ultimatum to provide evidence of alleged financial impropriety at Orange House or, in the absence of evidence, an apology for publishing a controversial piece in the paper's 'Corridors of Power' section.
The Star had alleged that as new ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna took over at Orange House, he was met with 'cooked books', with the party reportedly unable to account for millions raised from nomination fees and donations.
A statement issued by ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire on Thursday threatened unspecified action if the paper did not provide evidence of the same or an apology within a week.
"As the National Treasurer, I take the allegations as a direct affront on my own integrity and the professionals with whom I work.
"I therefore demand of The Star newspaper to publish evidence of the alleged financial impropriety or in absence thereof, a public apology. Should this not be done in seven (7) days, we shall act as we deem appropriate in law," the statement read in part.
[caption caption="Kitutu Masaba MP and ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire"]
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The story in question claimed that those behind the alleged misappropriation were shaken by the change of guard at the party.
"Already, a section of politicians who were involved in the appropriation of the money without any accountability have panicked at the change of guard at Raila Odinga’s party, ODM," it stated.
Bosire described the piece as a diversionary tactic to shift focus from the opposition's campaign for electoral justice.
He conveyed: "In light of our ongoing struggle for electoral justice and against the entrenchment of autocratic rule, we see a simplistic tactic of diverting us and Kenyan public from pursuit of the same."
Sifuna replaced Ababu Namwamba who ditched the opposition party ahead of the 2017 General Election and was rewarded with a cabinet position after President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election.
[caption caption="ODM leader Raila Odinga with Deputy Party leader Ali Hassan Joho at a delegates conference on February 23, 2018"]
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