Philip Etale pushes back against Caroli Omondi’s ODM financing claims
By Mustafa Juma, February 19, 2026Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale has sharply responded to recent claims by Suba South Member of Parliament (MP) Caroli Omondi regarding the scale of his financial support to the party.
Taking to his official X account on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Etale accused unnamed individuals of spreading exaggerations and warned against invoking the name of the late Raila Odinga to advance unverified narratives.
“We must stop peddling lies simply because HE Raila Odinga is not around to speak about it. Records are clear at the party headquarters about who donates what and in what quantity,” Etale stated.
Caroli Omondi on bankrolling ODM
The rebuttal comes just a day after Omondi publicly detailed what he described as massive historical contributions to ODM, including vehicles, campaign merchandise, and financial support for candidates.
“Caroli Omondi financing a political party is not new. In 2022, I didn’t give them any money. In 2017, I refused to give ODM money after they denied me a certificate, but I had $2 million for them. In 2013, I spent about Ksh700M on ODM. I bought them 25 vehicles, gave them T-Shirts for $2 million, I gave candidates a hundred and something million dollars, and paid their agents Ksh90 million. All those are documented,” Omondi said during an interview with a local TV station on the night of Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Etale dismisses Omondi
However, Etale has pushed back, insisting political donations are strictly regulated and documented.
“Money is not just given out like nuts being distributed to people at a gathering or relief food being distributed to hunger-stricken people. We must learn to be factual. In fact, the law on political parties’ campaign fundraisings is clear… there is a cap to it, and declarations have to be made,” he stated.
The ODM communications chief challenged those making large financial claims to provide verifiable proof instead of what he termed emotional political messaging.
He further framed the issue as one of respect for Raila’s legacy.
“Let us stop being boastful of what we can’t substantiate because we want to excite the masses and whip up emotions. That will never work. This is being disrespectful to the late Raila Odinga. As I said, I defended Baba in life and will defend him in death. Tuwache porojo,” Etale wrote on X.