Former Emuhaya MP and National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has claimed that he rejected ODM leader Raila Odinga's offer to be party chairman.
The Orange party has moved out of the legendary Orange House in Kilimani, shifting to the nearby Lavington after purchasing a house for Sh180 million.
And Marende, who was among those who formed the party, on Monday said that he rejected an offer to be the chairman of the party after the exit of Henry Kosgey.
In 2014, ODM held polls which would later be disrupted. After rejection of the offer, Mr Odinga settled for Suba South MP John Mbadi.
Mr Marende said he was part of the team that settled on various rules and regulations when the ODM party was formed in 2006.
“We formed ODM after the 2005 constitutional referendum and in 2007, I became its chairman of the Constitution, Elections and Regulations Committee. I am the one who crafted its elections, nominations and other administrative documents,” Mr Marende said.
He added: "I solved disputes fairly, like in 2007, when Rachel Shebesh and Elizabeth Ongoro disagreed. We found out that Ongoro won the ticket and we issued her with the certificate".
In 2008, Raila fronted Mr Marende as speaker of the house. He chaired debates when the country was witnessing chaos all over after a disputed poll in 2007.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who is ODM’s Political Affairs Director, said the party was moving to a new office as one of its strategies of re-branding and re-engineering.
“I have fond memories of Orange House, as it has been the seat of momentous changes in the country’s politics. This is where we plotted, initiated and managed all our politics,” Mr Wandayi said.