- Caroli Omondi says he used up to Sh700 million of his own money to support the Orange Democratic Movement in 2013.
- He claims he held back a further US$2 million (about Sh260 million) in 2017 after being denied a party ticket.
- Omondi says his support included 25 campaign vehicles, branded merchandise, and payments to candidates and agents.
- The funding debate arose during a clash with Eddy Oketch over who bankrolls ODM-linked rallies.
- He also alleged that outside forces influence key decisions within the party.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi has opened up about the financial muscle he deployed to support ODM during the 2013 General Election.
Speaking on JKL on Citizen TV Wednesday night, the lawmaker said he injected between Sh600 million and Sh700 million into party activities that year.
According to him, the contribution was not just in cash. He said he bought 25 branded vehicles for campaigns, supplied T-shirts worth about US$2 million, gave over Sh100 million directly to candidates, and paid agents Sh90 million. He maintained that all transactions were recorded.
At the time, Omondi was serving as Chief of Staff in the office of the late Raila Odinga, a position he had held since 2008.
Omondi revealed that he had planned to donate another US$2 million, estimated at Sh260 million, in the 2017 elections. However, he chose not to release the funds after the party denied him a certificate to contest for a parliamentary seat.
The dispute then involved current Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who was at the time the party’s national chairman.
In 2022, Omondi said he did not contribute financially to the party at all.
The issue of money resurfaced during a heated exchange between Omondi and Migori Senator Eddy Oketch. The debate centred on who is financing the popular Linda Mwananchi rallies associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Omondi stated that leaders linked to the faction, including Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, pool resources among themselves to organise the events.
The rallies have drawn large crowds in Busia and Kitengela and are expected to head to Kakamega.
Questions have also been raised about alleged sponsors of the ODM rebel activities. Some leaders aligned to the Linda Ground faction, under Oburu Oginga and a group of UDA MPs, have accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of backing the youthful team. Uhuru has not publicly responded to the claims.
During the show, Oketch dismissed suggestions of state involvement, describing the movement as part of ODM’s long-standing tradition of engaging supporters at the grassroots.
But Omondi insisted that powerful forces outside the party structure influence major decisions. He claimed that during a meeting in Mombasa that led to Sifuna’s suspension, initial discussions had ended in a stalemate before fresh instructions were allegedly issued later in the day.
As the funding debate continues, the revelations have added to tensions within ODM. Omondi’s statements have reopened discussions about transparency, internal democracy, and the source of resources driving political activities.
With factions trading claims and counterclaims, the spotlight now turns to how the party will manage the growing divisions ahead of future political contests.
