ODM Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna on Thursday, September 30, 2021, revealed that the party is owed Ksh8.5 billion by the national government.
In a statement, the ODM official outlaid the party’s financial status, revealing the huge sums allegedly owed to them.
“ODM is sound financially. However we would be able to do much more if Parliament, National Treasury and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) paid what’s due to the Party.
“The total amount owed to ODM stands at a whooping 8.5 BILLION Shillings as at 30th June 2021,” Sifuna stated.
It is unclear where the huge sum of money owed to ODM may have come from, speculations, however, indicate that the money may have accrued from the funds owed to political parties by ORPP.
According to the financial sheet shared by the ODM Secretary General, the party earned a total of Ksh1,406,096,790 for the financial year ended June 31, 2021. The money was earned from public contributions and donations, transfers record from government, and other accrued transfers owing from the government as well.
The party spent a further Ksh308,972,691 on party events, brand coordination and support campaigns, civic education conferences and meetings, party policy and advocacy, leaving a surplus of Ksh1,097,124,099.
The sheet revealed that total member assets for the party totaled to Ksh8,936,462,700.
The Kenyan Constitution provides for the Political Parties Fund which is administered by the ORPP.
Every year, the fund disburses cash to political parties who meet the set threshold in terms of membership and the number of elected leaders.
The funds are meant to strengthen and finance political party activities in the country. In July 2021, Jubilee and ODM received a cumulative amount of Ksh519 million, with Jubilee taking Ksh353,856,428 while ODM banked Ksh165,252,076.