Fresh battle rocks ODM over millions in ‘lavish’ spending

Questions are mounting within ODM over the source of large sums of money financing its lavish activities, including the ongoing countrywide “Linda Ground” campaigns.

The development comes amid revelations by senior party officials that the cash is not coming from the party’s official coffers.

The controversy has exposed deepening fault lines in the 20-year-old party as it intensifies internal mobilisation ahead of a possible pre-election coalition with President William Ruto’s UDA ahead of the 2027 general election.

At the centre of the storm are disclosures by ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna that the well-funded rallies sweeping the country are bankrolled through “parallel funding” channels outside the party’s formal financial structures.

“The money you see being spent in ODM rallies is not coming from ODM headquarters. There is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours,” Sifuna said during an interview with a local television station on Tuesday.

The Nairobi Senator, one of the official signatories to the party’s bank accounts alongside Treasurer Timothy Bosire, disclosed that the last time ODM officially released funds for party activities was last year during its 20^th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa.

“The last money we expended officially as ODM was for the celebrations in Mombasa, and even then, it was a fraction of what we are seeing now,” Sifuna said.

Pressed on whether he knew the source of the funds currently fuelling the rallies, Sifuna was blunt: “You will have to ask those funding them. I can only account for monies that I am a signatory to.”

His remarks were corroborated by Treasurer Bosire, who confirmed that the party has not financed the Linda Ground activities.

“It is correct. We have not funded all the functions. Where the money is coming from, I am not in a position to tell you at the moment,” Bosire told the Star by phone.

Bosire said ODM’s legitimate income streams include government political party funding, members’ subscriptions and donations from well-wishers — all of which are disclosed to the membership. However, he admitted that the current spending does not align with funds officially available to the party.

“I expect that at some point the leadership will sit down and disclosures will be made about the source of the funds,” he said.

The Linda Ground campaign was launched last month in Kamukunji, Kibra constituency. It was attended by interim party leader Oburu Oginga, party chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and other senior figures.

Since then, similar rallies have been held in Kakamega, Busia, Kisumu and Kisii counties. At the meetings, party leaders have been openly pushing delegates to endorse planned coalition talks with President Ruto’s UDA — a move that has sharply divided the party.

What has raised eyebrows is the scale of organisation and spending at the rallies. Delegates are not only mobilised in large numbers but are also facilitated with cash and fully branded ODM merchandise, all of which require substantial funding.

In Kakamega county alone, ODM assembled more than 1,200 delegates, including 60 representatives from each of the county’s 12 constituencies, alongside others drawn from neighbouring areas. Kisii Governor Simba Arati arrived with a fully branded delegation wearing “Simba Netaya” ODM T-shirts.

By conservative estimates, printing a campaign T-shirt costs about Sh600, while a branded cap goes for roughly Sh300. For an event like the Kakamega rally, this translates to approximately Sh1.08 million spent on T-shirts and caps alone.

Assuming an average of 1,200 delegates per county, ODM has already spent an estimated Sh5.5 million on branded merchandise in the five counties visited so far. If the campaign covers all 47 counties, the cost of merchandise alone could exceed Sh50 million. This figure excludes the cost of hiring venues, setting up stages and public address systems, mobilisation expenses and direct facilitation of delegates.

Adding to the intrigue is the increasing use of helicopters by senior party officials to attend rallies. Hiring a chopper typically costs between Sh150,000 and Sh250,000 per hour, translating to more than Sh1 million for a full day’s use. At the Kakamega rally, a delegate counted at least six helicopters ferrying ODM leaders.

The revelations have fuelled claims that ODM is being influenced — or even controlled — by external forces.

Deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed the rallies are not funded by the party but by friends and members of ODM.

“These Linda Ground activities have truly not been funded by the party. When we were moving around with Baba, were those activities being funded by the party?” he asked. “Why does he (Sifuna) feel that these activities are being funded by an individual or someone?”

The Mombasa Governor said the party has many “friends and well-wishers” who bankroll its activities.

“This party has many people who love it and do not necessarily care about money. If today a rally is to be held in Mombasa, the governor of Mombasa, not in his position as governor but as deputy party leader, will figure out resources — not using county funds — to ensure the event is a success,” he said.

Barely three days ago, ODM deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi alleged that the party was effectively being run from State House. The concerns were echoed last month by Raila Odinga’s sister, Ruth Odinga, who warned of “mysterious money” flooding the party to push it into a premature political pact.

“We are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate push to commit ODM into a coalition agreement more than a year before the elections,” she said. “Where is the money coming from?”

Ruth noted that ODM has not yet received public funding from the government, raising further questions about who could be bankrolling the expansive mobilisation drive — and to what end.

“Do not sell the ODM Party,” she cautioned. “A political party of ODM’s stature must remain strong. Those pursuing such actions may not fully appreciate the struggles, detentions and sacrifices that led to the birth of multiparty democracy and subsequently the ODM Party.”

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The revelations expose deep unease within ODM over the source of funds financing its lavish Linda Ground rallies. Senior officials, including secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Treasurer Timothy Bosire, admit the activities are not funded through official party accounts, pointing to parallel and undisclosed financing. The scale of spending — on branded merchandise, delegate facilitation, venues and helicopter travel — has intensified suspicion that powerful external interests may be influencing the party. The controversy has sharpened internal divisions, particularly over a proposed pre-election coalition with President William Ruto’s UDA.