ODM Party DJ Pinto Cahill has publicly complained that he was not fully compensated for services rendered at various party rallies and events, claiming he often received only transport reimbursement and, in some cases, no payment at all.
The controversy erupted after Cahill shared a frustrated Facebook post detailing several rallies and events where he says he was either unpaid or received minimal facilitation. The DJ said he had reached a breaking point after repeatedly offering his services without proper compensation.
The dispute escalated after Cahill accused campaign figures aligned with Oburu Oginga of failing to pay him for work carried out during major political rallies in Kisumu, Migori and Narok.
“HAKI YANGU IS ALL I ASK FOR. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” he wrote.
According to Cahill, some events earned him only KSh7,000 in transport reimbursement, while others attracted no payment at all.
The DJ had earlier expressed frustration that the ODM Party Linda Ground brigade, led by Oburu Oginga, had not paid him after five consecutive days of mobilisation work for the Kisumu Wabiro event.
The matter has since drawn the attention of Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, both of whom have publicly weighed in.
Jalang’o stepped in to mediate, promising to follow up the matter with the relevant party leadership. His intervention has renewed debate over the treatment of artists during political campaigns and amplified calls for formal contractual protections within the entertainment industry.
Responding in the comments section, Jalang’o described the situation as unacceptable and sought clarification on who had contracted the DJ.
“Kindly text me your number. As an artist, this is not acceptable. I’ll follow up immediately. Who have you been dealing with or who contracts you?” he wrote.
The exchange sparked widespread online reactions, with many users expressing support for Cahill and calling for timely payment of creatives involved in political events.
Sifuna also expressed embarrassment over the situation. Speaking during parliamentary proceedings, he criticised party colleagues Gladys Wanga and Oburu Oginga, urging them to stop complaining about party finances and instead ensure the DJ is paid.