ODM MPs clash over 'zoning' ahead of 2027 polls

ODM leaders have continued clashing in public over a proposal to zone areas considered strongholds ahead of 2027 general election.

The leaders have sharply differed with the plan that may see ODM secure certain areas to exclusively field candidates in the planned coalition with UDA.

Lang'ata MP Felix Jalang’o is the latest to dismiss the plan, saying such a move will kill ambitions of potential leaders in the targeted regions.

“Hii mambo ya zoning sasa inatoka wapi? Watu wakutane kwa kiwanja! Zoning kills ambitions and dreams! If you believe you have the people you don’t have to fear! Zoned or not let your people decide!!” Jalang’o wrote on his Facebook page.

The debate was triggered a few days ago after Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi declared that the issue of zoning will be core in the planned deal with UDA.

"We are ready to die for zoning; there is no negotiation when it comes to zoning. We are not going to allow UDA to plant candidates in Luo Nyanza and other ODM strongholds!” Atandi said.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma who has come out as one of the most vocal proponents of zoning, argues that ODM must be allowed to retain its identity and protect its strongholds.

Kaluma said zoning is common sense to winning the presidency and being able to effectively govern the country after elections, warning that ODM may as well go it alone in next year’s polls.

ODM, according to the MP, will only enter into pre-election coalition with parties that recognise its strongholds and respect the democratic need to have the party remain strong before and after elections.

“We either do zoning and field a single candidate for all seats from President to MCA or do it for no seat and allow all parties to field candidates for all seats from President, governors, MPs to MCAs and await post-election coalition. @TheODMparty is ready either way,” Kaluma said.

Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch argues that when parties enter a coalition they agree to, preserve, reserve or protect positions.

The MP says it would be selfish for a party in a coalition to want the presidency and in their case with UDA even the Deputy Presidency "preserved" "protected" "free from competition" by its partner, while in the process exposing the party sacrificing or preserving or protecting for them the presidency and DP to competition in the only other seats it has available to ensure it's survival and existence post the coalition.

“This is some form of "zoning"; why; if this is not done this way, each party in that coalition is free to field a candidate for President or deputy and the coalition will lose. If you go this route, then the idea of a pre-election coalition is lost, you then have decided to pursue a post-election not pre-election coalition,” Oluoch says.