ODM offices closed over pending rent arrears

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) offices in Migori Couty were closed over rent arrears.

According to reports, ODM had accumulated rent arrears which ran up to Ksh54,000 for three months.

The offices were reportedly locked after leaders charged with paying the rent allegedly boycotted the responsibility.

Leaders in the area are said to have offered to provide premises for party officials to hold meetings and MCA Nestory Owiyo offered to pay Ksh20,000 to offset the bill.

Kicked out

Mr Owiyo also asked other ODM party leaders in the area to chip in and help offset the bill.

The region’s party Chairman, Juma Akoko, stated that they are presently looking for modalities to have a party ward office.

In the past ODM has faced issues with its rent after it was alleged they were kicked out of the famous Orange House for failing to pay rent.

However, the party denied the claims maintaining they were moving out of Orange House after a mutual understanding with the property owner Caroli Omondi.

New premises

ODM had been using the building since 2006, months after the party was formed but their stay came to an end on December 31, 2018.

The party director, Oduor Ong’wen, said the reason for leaving the building, located off Nairobi’s Menelik Road, is because the owner wants to pull it down and erect a bigger structure.

“This is due to the intention of the landlord to construct a multi-storey office block on the property in line with the current trends of land use in the neighborhood,” Ong’wen stated.

“The National Secretariat will thus relocate to a new address at end of the year and our members, supporters and the general public will be notified accordingly,” he added.