Sh20 MILLION ARREARS

Pay party fees or face disciplinary action, ODM tells MCAs

Non-compliance has crippled activities, including planned relocation from Orange House to a Sh170 million property in Lavington

ODM delegates at Bomas
CASH-STRAPPED: ODM delegates at Bomas
Image: FILE

ODM has threatened to take disciplinary action against MCAs who have failed to pay party subscription fees.

The Raila Odinga-led movement has protested what it called intentional starving of the party by thousands of MCAs who have refused to submit the Sh5,000 monthly fee.

The Star has established that MCAs hold in excess of Sh20 million in non-remitted subscriptions, an amount that has crippled party activities.

ODM has twice had to shelve its plan to vacate Orange House to a new facility in Lavington due to dwindling cash flow.

Last year, the party identified a Sh170 million property at the Nairobi upmarket estate and was to move in by December 31. But it sought for a three-month extension which ends this month to raise a Sh95 million balance.

ODM gets most of its revenue from members’ contributions, Political Parties Fund, and donations.

From MCAs’ subscription alone, the party gets Sh2.5 million every month. But the cash flow has dried up in the recent months with only a handful lawmakers religiously paying the subscription.

Sources said MCAs have not fully complied with the mandatory requirement and that since September 2017, only MCAs from Kilifi have been faithfully remitting their dues.

Kisumu county – one of the bedrock of the Orange outfit – only started remitting in October 2017 and still, some 15 MCAs have refused to pay up.

Homabay, Siaya, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira are some of the counties also in the ODM’s bad books with MCAs refusing to pay their subscriptions.

The source said MCAs complained of having committed their payslips to loans with most claiming to be receiving nothing at the end of the month.

MPs pay Sh20,000 in monthly party subscription while governors pay Sh50, 0000.

“Majority claim they took loans and are receiving no salaries,” the source said.

On Friday, the party wrote to all its MCAs demanding they pay up or face the disciplinary committee.

The letter dated March 15, was copied to county assembly clerks. It directed all lawmakers with subscription areas to get in touch with the party’s finance department in Nairobi.

ODM also announced a new system called Invoice and Contribution System to track payment of a subscription fees.

Last month, during the party's National Governing Council meeting at Cooperative University, members were asked to reconcile their subscriptions by end of this month. The party said disciplinary action will be taken against non-compliant members.

Asked whether the party is planning any disciplinary action against the MCAs, ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen refused to comment saying the matter was an internal party affair.

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