Railas ODM Party to vacate Orange House

Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is set to vacate its current headquarters at Orange House on Menelik Road in Kilimani area, Nairobi.

ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen confirmed the decision to leave Orange House on Tuesday morning saying the party’s tenancy at the premises, owned by Mr. Caroli Omondi — a former advisor to Mr. Odinga — comes to an end on December 31, this year.

Mr. Ong’wen dismissed reports that Mr. Omondi had declined to renew ODM’s lease following a fallout with the Orange party.

“We wish to confirm that the tenancy of our National Secretariat at the current premises known as Orange House will come to its end on December 31, 2018 and by mutual consent between the Landlord and tenant, we have agreed not to renew it.”

“This is due 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. 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,” said Ong’wen in a statement.

Mr. Caroli Omondi was recently appointed a board member of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya.

In 2017, he had sought to vie for the Suba North seat but lost to ODM Chairman John Mbadi in the party primaries, which he claimed were marred by rigging.

The Orange House, which has become synonymous with ODM, has been the party’s headquarters since 2006.