Why ODM Doesn't Pay Me for Secretary General Post - Edwin Sifuna

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Edwin Sifuna has claimed that he is not on the party's payroll despite his many roles. 

According to Sifuna, holders of posts like secretary general, or even the party's national chairman, are deemed as sideline officials and are not entitled to remuneration given that they do not sit in the secretariat.

The Nairobi senator was speaking on Andrew Kibe's podcast when he divulged the details of his office in ODM.

The national secretariat headed by the Executive Director, who is appointed by the National Executive Committee, is the one that runs and links all the other party organs, and those sitting in it are the ones on the party's payroll.

On the other hand, the secretary general and the like are appointed by the party's National Governing Council (NGC).

Citing the Political Parties Act, Sifuna explained that it is unlawful for him to draw pay from the party.

"The law states that an official of the party is not supposed to be paid a salary. It is only the technical staff that receive salaries. For example at Chungwa House we have the executive director, communication director and finance directors, those are the ones who are paid. But the secretary general and chairman are not paid," he stated.

The Political Parties Act locks sideliner officials -like a party leader, national chairman, or even secretary general- out of the parties' payrolls.

"Monies allocated to a political party from the Fund shall not be used for paying directly or indirectly remuneration, fees, rewards, allowances or any other benefit to a member or supporter of the political party, other than a member of staff," the Act stipulates.

Besides the executive director, others in the ODM secretariat are the head of finance and administration, the director of communications, the head of membership recruitment, and the head of youth affairs.