This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Published on August 14, 2019, ODM has confirmed that its lease at Orange House, the party's current headquarters, has expired. The lease, which has been in place since the party's inception 11 years ago, was not renewed by the landlord, Caroli Omondi.
According to ODM executive director Oduor Ong'wen, the party's lease expired on December 31, 2018, and an agreement was reached with the landlord not to renew it. The agreement was signed on May 28, 2018, and is in writing.
ODM has stated that the decision not to renew the lease was due to the landlord's intention to construct a multi-storey office block on the property. The party has since announced that it will be relocating to a new location, which has not yet been disclosed.
However, Ong'wen has quelled reports that ODM was being kicked out by Mr. Omondi, stating that the party's lease had simply expired and that an advert for new office space would soon be published.
"Our lease is coming to a close and in the course of the week we are going to advertise. You know this is something that once we finalize, becomes public. It can't be a secret," Ong'wen said.
