ODM Responds to Orengo’s Claims of Helping Recover Ksh 12 Billion Owed by Government

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has issued a clarification following remarks made by Governor James Orengo regarding payments to his legal team and himself for handling the Political Parties Fund case.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 5, ODM said the claims were false, stating that the National Executive Committee had resolved to litigate the matter.

“We need to set the record straight regarding the Political Parties Fund case that the Party successfully litigated.
We have noted the claim by Gov. James Orengo that he personally initiated the matter. With respect, that position is not accurate,” ODM said.

“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.”

Orengo Agreement With ODM

ODM said Orengo was brought on board as a senior-ranking member with legal expertise specifically to offer legal services on a pro bono basis.

However, instead of instituting the proceedings through his own law firm, ODM said Orengo conveniently introduced the firm of Ms. Julie Soweto, which ultimately filed the petition.

The Party explained that from that point, the character of the engagement shifted from what had been understood as a pro bono undertaking into a contractual legal arrangement.

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Payment of Soweto’s Law Firm

ODM said it won the petition at the High Court in 2016 and subsequently in the Court of Appeal in 2018, and demands for legal fees began to be made.

Subsequently, the Party said Ms. Soweto’s Law firm was paid Ksh 40 million by the Party.

“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 documentary trail in this regard is clear and verifiable, and Hon. Orengo has personally received these payments. There is evidence to that effect,” ODM said.

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Court Case

The Party said it now finds itself embroiled in an ongoing legal dispute in the High Court with the Soweto Firm (in effect, associated with Gov. Orengo), with a claim of more than Ksh 350 million for legal representation.

Further, ODM said Orengo should know that he is bound by the Professional Ethics standards of Advocate-Client confidentiality as a Senior Counsel.

“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 Party said.

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