Opposition leader Raila Odinga has prepared a sturdy financial war chest for what may his last attempt at the Presidency next year.
Historically Raila has been considered a stingy politician but he now appears to have started serious personal spending.
He has been facilitating his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula to travel across the country as well as providing the bulk of the money needed to organise Cord activities.
He pays from his pocket for the offices and staff at Capitol Hill, owned by the late Harban Singh, which are now being used as the Cord joint secretariat. Recently, he ordered for a review of the working terms of his secretariat who got salary increments and enhanced allowances. The Staff at Orange House are paid from the ODM coffers
The exact amounts released by Raila remain confidential but sources says the former Prime Minister has been willing to fund budgets with ease unlike before.
"Sometimes he delivers the cash using other people and it could be in millions," said an aide to the Cord leader.
Raila has put together an efficient campaign team to handle party finances as well as his political diary.
The recent appointment of former Special Projects PS Andrew Mondoh as Chief of Staff at the Cord secretariat has streamlined operations and increased impetus.
With 14 months left to the 2017 general election, Raila has been making high profile foreign trips and staging costly political rallies in Western Kenya, Mombasa, Nairobi, Meru, Nyanza and recently Garissa.
In Nairobi alone Raila has bankrolled multiple rallies attended by thousands of supporters in the scramble for the strategic city vote.
"You have seen for yourselves. It will no longer be business as usual in Cord. Kama ni pesa, tutatumia pia, kwani wao ni nani? (if it is money, we will also spend, otherwise who are they (Jubilee)?," a senior official at the Cord secretariat told the Star.
"We will prove wrong our critics who said we had run out of steam," said the official.
"Expect more in the coming days, we have taken time to plan, get resources and now it is spending time," said the official who is acquainted with Cord's internal operations.
During the Madaraka Day rally in Uhuru Park, Raila reportedly spent Sh2 Million on logistics alone.
Cord hired a clear and powerful public address system and provided entertainment unit from musicians Emma Jalamo and Lady Mourine.
Buses were also hired to ferry supporters from as far as Machakos, Ngong, Kajiado and take them back after close of business. Historically Raila and cord have not been known to facilitate crowds.
Last Saturday Raila stormed Garissa Township where there was heavy mobilisation with thousands of Cord supporters
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