ODM leaders from Nyanza have met with mixed reactions party leader Raila Odinga’s decision to share the party’s Sh87.4 million with its coalition partners.
Raila has said the sum ODM received from the Political Parties Fund will be shared with co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford-Kenya.
He dismissed reports that his party would keep all the money.
Raila said Cord signed an agreement on how the three parties will share the money.
ODM leaders in Nyanza yesterday gave different opinions on Raila’s statement.
Suba MP John Mbadi backed Raila’s proposal and said there was a pre-election agreement.
He said ODM must honour agreements made with other partners.
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo declined to comment on the matter.
Siaya County ODM chairman Oloo Okanda said he does not know of any agreement by the party to share its money.
“We have not received any official communication from the party top leadership and need to consult further on the same,” he said.
Uriri ODM politician Omondi Gwonyo said the money should not be shared.
“The Political Parties Act is very clear on the distribution of such funds. The other Cord partners must up their game and boost their numerical strength in the Houses to attract such funds individually,” he said.
Gwonyo said that if there is any decision to share the money with Wiper and Ford-Kenya “it is important to have proper consultations.”
Kisumu county ODM chairman Dave Okwach said even if there is a decision to share the money, Wiper and Ford-Kenya should not demand an equal share with ODM.
Kisumu East ODM vice chairman George Okwach said the money should be shared to strengthen their coalition.
A Court of Appeal ruling locked some parties out of the Sh205 million set aside in the budget to finance political parties.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA was allocated Sh89.3 million, ODM got Sh87.4 million while Deputy President William Ruto’s URP received Sh28.2 million.
Parties which lost out on the fund are Wiper, Ford-K, UDF and New Ford-Kenya.
– the-star.co.ke
