This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Wafula Buke, a former director for political affairs and strategy of ODM, has spoken out about his experiences with corruption at Orange House. The allegations began when a deal for the purchase of the new Orange House was made public, with some claiming they had brokered the deal but were denied their agency fee.
According to Buke, those who claimed to have brokered the deal contacted him after the transaction appeared in the papers, alleging that the real price was 130 million, not the 170 million reported. Buke raised his concerns with Kawino and Oduor, who pleaded with him to kill the story, saying it was false.
Edwin Sifuna was reportedly furious when he learned of the story but cooled down after a conversation with the Orange House duo. Buke's investigation revealed information that he feared would turn him into a 'biblical Samson,' so he decided to share his findings with the Pope.
At the time, Buke was frustrated with the Secretariat, and when the NEC appointed Oduor and Pareno to oversee reforms at the party, he couldn't wait to return from South Africa. He expressed his frustrations through a Facebook post.
When Buke returned, he received a 'show cause' letter from Oduor and Sifuna, which he responded to by saying that if the past were replayed, he would do exactly the same thing he had done. Before the management committee, chaired by Edwin Sifuna, Buke asked why they were pretending to sack him to clear the way for a corrupt deal on the new office.
According to Buke, Sifuna was shocked when he made this statement, and no one asked a single question on the matter.
