Senators and Members of Parliament of Kenya’s main opposition party, the ODM are being chased by the Party Whip for the one-year arrears of their monthly Sh20,000 dues that they have defaulted in paying to the party.
The legislators, numbering 33 owe the ODM a total of Sh8.2 million in overdue monthly contributions.
Each is required Sh20,000 monthly but have not paid a farthing since they elected last leading to each owing the party a total of Sh240,000.
Greatly worried ODM leader Raila Odinga read the riot act to the defaulting Senators and MPs, including his elder brother, Oburu Odinga who is a nominated member, at the party’s Parliamentary Group meeting held at the Orange House.
He warned them to pay up urgently or face punitive sanctions. Mr. Thomas Mwadeghu, the newly-appointed is among the defaulters.
The names of the 33 MPs and Senators who owe the party at least Sh240,000 each in unpaid monthly contributions were read out during the party’s
Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabbir, who had been tasked by the PG with compiling the list of all MPS, Senators and Woman Representatives, and the status of their contributions, said the 33 had not remitted a cent to the party’s coffers since their election or nomination to Parliament and Senate last year.
“We are shocked that some of these people posture for big positions in the party, yet they do not make contributions like some of us. Why is Dr Oburu Oginga not paying?” Mr. Shabir queried.
Dr Oginga, a top level member of the ODM think-tank who is also vocal on internal party issues was not immediately available for comment.
Notable defaulters include Funyula MP Paul Otuoma, Mbita’s Millie Odhiambo and Gwassi MP John Mbadi.
Mr. Odinga reportedly directed the party’s Executive Director, former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat, to ensure that all the defaulters pay up their balances or face undisclosed sanctions.
A number of the defaulters, who were present when the names were read out, struggled to explain their failure to party dues.
“I am one of the major contributors in ODM. I have been remitting my contributions, but it could be that there is a problem with the parliamentary payroll section,” Dr Otuoma said.
“The other day I went to the ODM fund-raising and donated Sh500,000. Why are they not appreciating me for that? Then they called another fund-raising and I donated Sh300,000. Someone is becoming malicious here,” he said.
Busia County Woman Representative Florence Mutua, also accused of defaulting, said her payslip had been reflecting a deduction of Sh20,000 payable to ODM every month.
“They should reconcile records with the National Assembly because as far as I am concerned, my contributions are remitted,” she said.
Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga said the party secretariat may have misplaced the check-off forms and that it was unfair to blame members for the mishap.
“There is a serious communication breakdown regarding this matter. Let them give me the forms so I can sign them again,” he said.
The party rules require that each MP pays Sh20,000 per month. The money is used to fund the party’s day-to-day operations and paying staff at the secretariat.
Members of the County Assemblies from the party are supposed to pay Sh5,000 per month, but it was not clear whether they have been meeting this obligation.
Also among the defaulters are nominated MP Isaac Mwaura, Kibra MP Ken Okoth, Taita Taveta Woman Representative Joyce Lay, MPs John Waluke (Sirisia), James Rege (Karachuonyo), Silverse Anami (Shinyalu) and Andrew Toboso (Butere), Senators Dan Mwazo (Taita Taveta), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), and Wilfred Machage (Migori) are also listed as defaulters.
Other leaders listed are Mpuru Aburi, Joseph Lekuton, James Gesami, Mong’are Geni, Abdirahman Hassan, Chachu Ganya, Hassan Mwanyoha, Ibrahim Abdi, Nasra Ibrahim, Richard Onyonka, Ramadhan Dori and William Kamoti Mwamka.