A fresh political storm is rocking the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party after a fierce public fallout with Siaya Governor James Orengo over the origins and handling of a landmark KSh12 billion political parties funding case.
In a sharply worded statement released Tuesday, ODM dismissed Orengo’s claims that he single-handedly initiated and spearheaded legal proceedings that secured the colossal payout from the government. The party insisted the case was a collective institutional effort sanctioned by its National Executive Committee, accusing the veteran lawyer of overstating his role.
According to ODM, Orengo was brought on board purely on a pro bono basis due to his legal expertise and senior standing within the party. However, the arrangement allegedly took a controversial turn when he introduced external legal representation—transforming what was meant to be a goodwill service into a paid engagement.
The dispute now centres on payments made to a law firm associated with prominent advocate Julie Soweto, with ODM claiming it was blindsided by legal fee demands after victories in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. The party says it has already paid millions, yet faces a fresh claim exceeding KSh350 million—fueling internal resentment and mistrust.
In a stinging rebuke, ODM further accused Orengo of breaching advocate-client confidentiality by publicly discussing details of the case, urging him to “come clean” on payments received.
But Orengo has hit back, maintaining that the KSh12 billion claim exists solely because of legal groundwork he laid. He has also taken aim at rival factions within ODM, intensifying factional tensions that are increasingly spilling into the public domain.
The fallout has revived memories of past internal clashes within the party founded by Raila Odinga, raising concerns about unity as Kenya’s political landscape begins to tilt toward the 2027 general election.
With legal battles ongoing and political tempers flaring, the Orengo-ODM wrangle is fast evolving from a dispute over fees into a broader struggle for influence, legacy, and control within one of Kenya’s most powerful political outfits.
