- ODM national chairman Gladys Wanga has challenged the belief that the party cannot continue its activities without Edwin Sifuna
- His statement was aimed at answering the question of the party being held hostage by Sifuna and unable to fund its activities because the controversial secretary general holds the keys to the finances.
- He explained that the mandatory signature required to open the funds is that of the national treasurer, saying that Sifuna’s refusal to cooperate cannot stop the party
ODM national chairwoman Gladys Wanga has dismissed claims that the party’s progress depends on the goodwill of the controversial secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
Source: Facebook
Sifuna has clashed with the ODM leadership, leading to his removal as secretary general on February 11.
Allegations later emerged that he had held the party hostage to his constitutional duty.
How important is Edwin Sifuna to ODM?
Some said that the important activities of the party needed the approval of Sifuna, as he was said to be the guardian of the important articles of the party.
The Special Delegates Meeting (SDC) planned to be called by party leader Oburu Oginga was among the activities that allegedly required his approval.
However, Wanga clarified that ODM is entrusting many signatories with important responsibilities. In the case of funding events such as the SDC, he explained that the signature of the national treasurer alone is sufficient to initiate the process.
Does ODM rely on Edwin Sifuna to run operations?
Wanga, who is also the governor of Homa Bay County, insisted that although the general secretary is the signatory of the party’s accounts, the signature of the treasurer is bound to that of other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), even without Sifuna.
“There is funding for political parties in this country, and ODM is entitled to the second largest allocation. And so we have money. We have money as a party. Sifuna is a signatory, but not a mandatory signatory. The only person who is a mandatory signatory to ODM’s account is the treasurer, Timothy Bosire. So if Timothy Bosire tells you, I did not sign the cheque, it is understandable because he has to sign every cheque. But as soon as Bosire signs it sign the check, the finance director can sign it. There are seven signatories. So three of them can sign the check and continue the party’s activities,” Wanga said.
He added that the party’s funds are public and cannot be protected by individuals.
He noted that ODM has been funding its activities for many years regardless of internal disagreements.
“The fact that Sifuna did not sign the check does not mean that the party did not finance the activity. That is a deception that has been going on, and it is good for us to clarify it. ODM has had NDCs for 20 years. We have been going on for 20 years. We have been active for all these 20 years. No one questions, because we are a party, and we are funded from the treasury,” he added.
Wanga’s declaration also seemed to answer the President’s question William Ruto allegedly sponsoring ODM activities, especially the Linda Ground meetings that the Oburu-led group has been holding across the country.
How much does the government owe to ODM?
Elsewhere, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed recently persuaded Ruto to speed up the release of billions owed by ODM under the Political Parties Fund.
Source: Twitter
The party claims the National Treasury has withheld more than KSh 12 billion in allocations, despite legal requirements to deliver the funds.
Junet spoke about the issue during the joint meeting of the UDA-ODM parliament, stressing that the provision of funds on time is important for the party’s growth and smooth operation.
ODM says that years of undelivered dividends have caused arrears to accumulate, and it has previously considered taking legal action to recover the money.
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