The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has strongly dismissed claims that it spent Ksh100 million to ferry delegates to its recent Special Delegates Convention (SDC) that was held on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Jamhuri ASK Show Grounds in Nairobi.

In a press statement issued on behalf of the party on Sunday, March 29, 2026, National Assembly Minority Leader and ODM Director of Campaigns and Elections Junet Mohamed termed the reports false, misleading, and politically motivated.

The Orange Party accused a local daily of publishing sensational and inaccurate information aimed at tarnishing its image following the high-stakes convention.

The controversy stems from a report claiming that ODM transported up to 6,000 delegates to the capital at a cost of Ksh100 million, with claims of uneven payments across regions.

ODM constitution

However, ODM has categorically refuted the figures, insisting that its constitution clearly limits the number of accredited delegates to 3,000.

“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading and sensational headline published by The Standard Group alleging that ODM ferried 6,000 delegates to Nairobi for our National Delegates Conference on Friday, 27 March 2026, at a cost of KSh 100 million, and that delegates received varied payments across different regions,” Junet stated.

“We wish to categorically state that these allegations are false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and diminish the credibility of our party.”

Adding: “For the avoidance of doubt, the ODM Constitution is explicit on the composition of the National Delegates Conference. The required number of accredited delegates is 3,000; any figure above this is illegal. It therefore begs the question: where did the figure of 6,000 delegates come from? Such exaggerations are not only inaccurate but point to a reckless disregard for facts by a media house that is increasingly gaining a reputation for publishing propaganda.”

Misinformation

ODM further accused the media house of deliberately spreading misinformation and undermining the credibility of the party.

The party maintained that its internal processes, including the NDC, are conducted strictly within its constitutional framework and funded through legitimate channels.

“ODM is a national, democratic movement with established structures across all 47 counties. Our internal processes, including delegates’ conferences, are conducted within the framework of our constitution and supported through legitimate party mechanisms, including funding from our members and allocations from the Political Parties Fund as provided for by law,” the party stated.

ODM noted that its activities are supported by contributions from members as well as allocations from the Political Parties Fund, as provided for under Kenyan law.

It dismissed attempts to portray the conference as a product of financial impropriety or regional mobilisation, saying such narratives are intended to mischaracterise its national outlook.

“We urge our members and the public to remain focused on the substantive outcomes of the National Delegates Conference. The party, in a historic and unanimous decision, ratified Oburu Oginga as Party Leader following the passing of our Founding Leader, Raila Odinga, C.G.H. Further, the conference mandated that the Party Leader initiate the process of coalition-building in preparation for the 2027 General Election,” Junet said.

Focus on NDC outcomes

ODM urged members and the public to focus on the substantive outcomes of the conference rather than what it described as “diversionary” claims.

During the NDC, the party ratified Oburu Oginga as the new Party Leader following the death of its founding leader, Raila Odinga.

The conference also mandated the new leadership to spearhead coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 General Election.