NAIROBI, Kenya — Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has alleged that the government is covertly funding the ODM “Linda Ground” rallies, claiming the financial backing is intended to influence the party’s internal direction and pressure it into supporting President William Ruto in the next General Election.
Her remarks have intensified internal divisions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and come amid a public dispute between the party and former President Uhuru Kenyatta over leadership changes within the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition.
The controversy follows comments by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who distanced the party’s headquarters from the funding of the rallies.
“I can state authoritatively that the money you see being spent in those rallies does not come from ODM HQ,” Sifuna said during a Citizen TV interview on Tuesday.
The statement triggered sharp reactions within ODM, with Ruth Odinga coming out strongly in defence of Sifuna while questioning the source of the funds being used for the rallies.
“Those with the answers, why can’t you provide them? Are governors funding the campaigns? Are MPs doing it from the CDF kitty? Did we get a philanthropist that a party SG is not aware of who is funding the clearly expensive public fora? And what is in it for the ‘philanthropist’?” she posed.
Ruth Odinga, who is the sister of former ODM party leader Raila Odinga, expressed concern over what she described as millions of shillings being spent on the Linda Ground rallies, which are associated with a faction within ODM that supports a broad-based engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
She cited the cost of helicopter transport, large tents, branded T-shirts and caps, questioning how such expenditures were being financed at a time when the party has acknowledged financial difficulties.
“The government has the option of releasing the funds to the party, but when that happens, they will lack control. So, they must be the ones controlling the show, where they decide who is ‘invited’ to the Linda Ground tents, and what they say once they get there,” she claimed.
Ruth further alleged that the purported state funding was aimed at shaping political messaging and suppressing dissenting voices within ODM, particularly those opposed to the growing cooperation with President Ruto’s administration.
“If President Ruto does not honour an agreement he signed with a man he said helped him steady a ship called Kenya that was sinking following the Gen-Z protests, how sure are you that he will honour the pre-election pact you are all talking about? Will he use a different signature?” she asked.
She concluded by questioning President Ruto’s commitment to the political agreement reached with Raila Odinga, arguing that the government had failed to fully implement the 10-point agenda agreed upon last year.
The debate over rally funding comes against the backdrop of ODM’s financial challenges. Sifuna disclosed that the party, which is grappling with a KSh12 billion debt, has not spent funds from its official accounts since November.
“The last money we expended as ODM officially was in the celebrations in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what is being used,” he said.
Also Read: ODM’s Edwin Sifuna rules out supporting Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid
Meanwhile, ODM has formally challenged changes made to the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leadership structure, which were overseen by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in his capacity as Azimio Council Chairperson.
In a letter signed by ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen and addressed to the Registrar of Political Parties, John Cox Lorianokou, the party declared the changes null and void, arguing they were implemented without consultation with all constituent parties.
ODM maintains that party leader Dr Oburu Oginga was not consulted, as required under the Azimio deed of agreement, and has called for the decisions to be frozen pending proper consultations.
The unfolding dispute underscores growing tensions within the opposition alliance as Kenya’s political landscape begins to shift ahead of the next election cycle.
