The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has come out to contradict Siaya Governor James Orengo’s claims about the Political Parties Fund case, saying his version of events is not accurate and that the party’s records tell a very different story.
In a statement dated May 5, 2026, ODM moved to set the record straight, saying the claim by Orengo, that he personally initiated the matter, is simply not accurate.
“With respect, that position is not accurate. The true position, as borne out by the party’s records, is that the National Executive Committee deliberated on the issue and formally resolved that the case be filed on behalf of the party,” the statement read.
ODM said Orengo was brought in as a senior ranking member with legal expertise to offer his services on a pro bono basis, and that was the clear understanding from the start.
However, instead of handling the case through his own law firm, he introduced the firm of Ms. Julie Soweto, which ended up filing the petition.
“From that point, the character of the engagement shifted from what had been understood as a pro bono undertaking into a contractual legal arrangement,” ODM said.
After the party won in the High Court in 2016 and again in the Court of Appeal in 2018, legal fee demands began coming in.
Ms. Soweto’s law firm was eventually paid Ksh 40 million by the party, a development that ODM says caught everyone off guard, including the late Raila Odinga.
“The demand came as a surprise to everyone including the Party Leader, the late Raila Odinga, who branded Orengo and his team mercenaries. There was nothing pro bono,” the statement said, adding that the documentary trail is clear and verifiable and that Orengo personally received the payments.
The party also revealed that it is now facing a High Court claim of more than Ksh 350 million from the Soweto firm for legal representation, a dispute it described as ongoing.
ODM closed with a pointed reminder to Orengo about his professional obligations.
“As a Senior Counsel, Gov. Orengo should know that he is bound by the Professional Ethics standards of Advocate-Client confidentiality. But the very least act we expect of him is also to acknowledge that he was paid for the legal services he rendered, which was against the initial agreement of providing pro bono services to the party he so much loves and cares about,” the statement concluded.
Orengo had earlier said he was the one who personally initiated the legal proceedings that led to ODM being owed Ksh 12 billion by the government.
“It is a matter of public record that I personally initiated the legal proceedings on behalf of ODM to determine the funds owed to the party by the government. The Ksh12 billion figure exists today only because of the ruling in the case I filed,” he said.
He also took a swipe at what he called the “Linda Tumbo” group within the party, saying it was ironic that they were now demanding those funds from the President without acknowledging the legal work he had done.
