- The money was part of the Political Parties Fund the Raila Odinga-led party last month agreed to share with its former Nasa partners.
- Ford Kenya cash withheld over leadership wrangles.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY
ODM has made good its promise and released Sh117.2 million to its former National Super Alliance partners.
The Orange Party has, however, withheld Sh36 million share for Ford Kenya which is embroiled in vicious power wars.
The money was part of the Political Parties Fund the party last month agreed to share with its former affiliates.
A senior ODM official on Monday confirmed to the Star that they wired the cash to the accounts of their former partners last week.
“We gave them the money as we agreed. For Ford Kenya we shall hold, we cannot release money with the leadership still being contested,” a senior party official told the Star.
Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper received Sh70.4 million, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC got Sh43.8 million, while Isaac Ruto’s CCM took home Sh3 million.
However, ANC spokesperson Nathaniel Mong'are said he was not aware of any funds having been wired to the party.
“What ODM needs to do, is to give you a bank statement showing that they have wired the money to ANC accounts. The burden is on their side to prove they have given us money,” he stated.
He said the claim by ODM could just be propaganda to portray the party as honest and generous.
“If I do a transaction to your account, I can easily give you proof of the transaction. They should show you the statements to prove they have given us the money,” he said.
He said ODM only showed interest to share the cash from the Political Parties Funds after being cornered by former affiliates.
“We cornered them for violating the Political Parties Act, 2011, Section 25 and NASA coalition agreement on sharing of funds,” he said.
He added that any money channelled to ANC or other affiliate parties should be calculated in arrears.
When contacted, Wiper executive director Justin Kyambi could not confirm or deny that they had received funds from ODM.
“Those are issues we cannot discuss on the phone. It is too much of in-house business,” Kyambi told the Star.
Ford Kenya is embroiled in a bitter power tussle, with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula leading one faction, while the other wing is led by MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi) and secretary general Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren).
The leadership tussle is now subject to a court decision.
Last month, Eseli wrote to ODM demanding the money be withheld until the court resolves the matter.
“I have received with pleasure your decision to share the political party’s funds with Ford Kenya, among other members of the Nasa coalition. It is indeed an indication of your party’s consideration of the welfare of your partner parties,” Eseli said in a July 28 letter.
“However, I wish to bring to your attention that Ford Kenya has had a long-drawn-out dispute about the leadership, a matter that has dragged on in court for over a year now. By this letter, I wish to instruct that the money due to Ford Kenya be withheld until the courts resolve the matter.”
The letter was copied to Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu.