By Anderson Ojwang
The proponents of zoning in the proposed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) pre-election coalition agreement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have suffered a jolt after Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o termed the idea as unacceptable, flawed, and a negation of democracy.
He said the idea of zoning was unacceptable as it takes the country back to the times when politics were shaped by elite agreement and ethnic calculations.
Nyong’o said as the country moves closer to 2027, the troubling idea of informally dividing Kenya into political zones where only certain leaders are expected or allowed to compete negates democracy.
“Accepting zoning would mean replacing open competition with predetermined outcomes. It would treat voters as passive observers rather than active decision makers. It will also weaken accountability since leaders would no longer need to persuade a wide range of citizens to earn their support,” he said.
He said political choices made for immediate convenience often create long-term consequences.
“This idea is not only flawed, it runs against the very foundation of our democracy – our constitution. What may appear as a useful short-term strategy could, in time, become a burden too heavy for the nation to carry,” he wrote.
Nyong’o said for the heavy cost of the idea, Kenyans must approach politics with a forward-looking mindset, not one driven by short-term calculations.
The ODM wing of Linda Ground, led by Dr Oburu Oginga, has stated that ODM’s irreducible minimum is zoning of ODM strongholds from UDA and other coalition partners.
Dr Oburu said zoning will only be handled by a technical team, which, according to him, is yet to be formed.
“These are issues that are going to be discussed in negotiations, and we have a technical team which we are just preparing to start discussing those issues. Those people who have begun discussing it in public are in too much of a hurry. They do not know what will come out of it,” Oburu stated.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has declared that Homa Bay and the broader Nyanza region are ODM zones and will not tolerate opposition, specifically warning against UDA infiltration.
Wanga insisted that any coalition agreement with UDA must include a clear zoning formula that guarantees ODM a fair and respectable number of seats in regions where it has strong support.
“ODM will not be a ‘junior affiliate’ to UDA, and we expect a 50-50 power-sharing structure where ODM controls its traditional strongholds,” she insisted.
Kaluma said: “I want to tell our friends in UDA, if you think you can have members here in Homa Bay, it will take away votes from the President. In fact, if you want to destroy our relationship, try fronting anyone other than ODM here in Homa Bay.”
Nyong’o wrote that it was important to look at Kenya’s democratic journey and that the 2010 constitution was a major turning point, as it was designed to open up governance, protect rights, and ensure power truly belonged to the people.
“Under the constitution, the right to participate in politics is not symbolic but real and enforceable. Every Kenyan has the right to run for office anywhere within the country, from local positions to the presidency, as long as they meet legal requirements,” he said.
Alego MP Sam Atandi said there was no negotiation over zoning and will not allow UDA to plant candidates in Nyanza.
“We are not going to allow UDA to plant a candidate here in Muhoroni. All our party strongholds are reserved for ODM, nothing less or more,” he said.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has dismissed ODM’s zoning demands, saying the UDA party will field candidates across the country.
The UDA Secretary General argued that if ODM is confident in its strongholds, it should allow other parties to field candidates in those areas.
“ODM says the Coast is their stronghold; we are telling them the Coast belongs to the people of the Coast, let us compete fairly. And they claim that even if some of us are allowed to vie for seats, we cannot defeat them in their ODM zones. If you have that kind of courage and confidence, then what problem is the issue with us contesting for those seats?” Omar questioned.
MP Millie Odhiambo has maintained that ODM was the most popular party in the country and the call for zoning was retrogressive and uncalled for.
“There has been a lot of discussion on the issue of zoning. My personal position is that ODM is a popular party. We have declared ODM as a popular and the largest party in the country; how come we demand zoning?” she asked.
She said ODM has managed to successfully front candidates without any formal form of zoning, perhaps maybe a silent agreement like in Nairobi.
“There has never been a need for zoning for ODM. Let us be honest: none of us is Raila Amolo Odinga. We need to listen to the public. The public is keen that we show what we have done for the public. When we start pushing an agenda of zoning, it means we put our personal interest ahead of our constituents,” she said.
Millie said elected leaders should not be scared of competition if they know they have delivered on their mandate.
“If I have worked for my constituency, I should not fear meeting my opponents. So when we talk about zoning, we seem to be seeking favorable treatment. Let us reconsider the issue of zoning,” she said.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna wondered why a section of party members were demanding zoning in areas which are ODM strongholds.
“How do you call for zoning in Homa Bay County, the bastion of ODM? Let UDA field a candidate because that is not something to scare us,” he said.
He said the proponents of zoning have a problem and fear facing their opponents at the ballot.
