Ruth Odinga defends Sifuna, insists Ruto gov’t sponsoring ODM rallies
Ruth Odinga defends Sifuna, insists Ruto gov't sponsoring ODM rallies
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga now claims the government is funding the ODM Linda Ground rallies in order to control and force the party to support President William Ruto in next year’s General Election.
This comes as the ODM party fired back at retired President Uhuru Kenyatta over changes effected at the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya summit, saying the former president overstepped his mandate by overseeing irregular changes.
“I can state authoritatively that the money you see being spent in those rallies does not come from ODM HQ,” said ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on a Citizen TV interview on Tuesday.
It is this statement by Sifuna that has stirred controversy.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who took to her social media platforms in defence of Sifuna, called out those who have been attacking him as hypocritical cowards.
“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’?” posed Ruth Odinga.
In her statement, Ruth, who is the sister of former ODM party leader Raila Odinga, questioned the source of the millions of shillings being spent on the ODM Linda Ground rallies, fronted by the pro-broad-based team faction of the party.
The Woman Representative raised concern over the sponsors of the ODM events, which have seen large sums of money go toward hiring helicopters, large tents, and ODM-branded T-shirts and caps.
IEBC appoints Moses Ledama Sunkuli as acting CEO
Treasury invites civil servants to apply for car loans: How to apply
Safaricom approves interim dividend, announces payout date
Why I joined DCP after dumping UDA – Nelson Havi
“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 government was bankrolling the rallies in order to control the narrative and muffle opposing voices to the “Tutaam” chorus.
“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 posed.
The Kisumu Woman Representative concluded by casting doubt on President William Ruto’s commitment to uphold his end of the bargain in the ongoing pre-election pact with ODM, saying he had failed to implement the 10-point agenda he signed with Raila Odinga last year.
The statement comes two days after Sifuna stated that the party, which is reeling from a Ksh.12 billion debt, had not drawn any funds from its accounts since November last year.
“The last money we expended as ODM officially was in the celebrations in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what is being used,” said Sifuna.
JSC declines to act on Isaac Rutto removal
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu’s son dies after collapsing
UDA MP apologizes over protesters’ shoot-to-kill remarks
Details of Kalonzo trip to the USA
Follow us
