Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawyer James Orengo making submissions during the hearing of an application seeking Sh5 billion from the Registrar of Political Parties.
BY SAM ALFAN.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has filed an application seeking Sh5 billion from the Registrar of Political Parties and the Treasury.
ODM has in the court papers claimed that the Registrar of Political Parties and the Treasury have acted unprocedurally by failing to consult, inform or give any reasons for not disbursing or distributing all the funds expected to be distributed to the political parties entitled to receive funding from the Political Parties Fund.
The party claims that it has been unable to undertake its core mandate to achieve its objectives because of underfunding.
“The next general election is barely a year away and ODM’s ability to prepare and participate meaningfully and effectively is greatly affected by the lack of funding,” the party through its lawyer James Orengo argues.
The party through its Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen, said that it had a legitimate expectation that it shall receive all the funds due to it from the Political Parties Fund.
“Following the results of the last General Election held in 2013, ODM is one of the three parties that are entitled to receive proportionate funding from the Political Parties Fund having met the criteria established under the Act,” Mr Ong’wen.
He said ODM is entitled to receive at least 40 percent of the funds to be distributed to political parties from the Political Parties Fund.
The party says it has not received any amount and wants the court to compel the Registrar of Political Parties and Treasury to disburse the sum of 5,109,564,700, since the fund was established.
Jubilee Party, National Alliance Party and United Republican Party have been named as interested parties.
