ODM moves to recover Sh12.6 billion in legal battle with Treasury

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced it will take legal action against the National Treasury over Sh12.6 billion it claims is owed to the party under the Political Parties Fund.

The party says the repeated refusal by the Treasury and Parliament to release the money has placed serious strain on its operations.

In a statement issued after a Central Committee meeting on Thursday, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the funds are a legal entitlement and expressed frustration at the continued delays.

"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 Sh12.6 billion. The committee has resolved to explore execution proceedings against the National Treasury for the recovery of this amount," the statement read.

The committee commended the party’s National Treasurer and secretariat for effectively managing resources despite the financial challenges and adopted the financial report for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

On electoral matters, ODM reviewed its recent branch and county elections and outlined its plans for the November 27 by-elections.

The party said it will field candidates in most constituencies while issuing direct tickets to 2022 candidates in Magarini Constituency and Fafi Ward.

"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 stated.

ODM also confirmed it will conduct repeat elections in Busia and Kakamega counties on August 29 and September 1 to address cases in six counties where results are under appeal.

This follows the indefinite suspension of Busia elections.

On August 21, NECC chairperson Emily Awita announced that elections originally set for August 25 would be postponed until further notice.