Orange Democratic Movement party leader Oburu Oginga on Friday suggested that the zoning arrangement they seek will only apply to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance Party, leaving a window for smaller Kenya Kwanza coalition parties to field candidates freely for every elective seat across the country.
Dr Oginga also dismissed claims that the ODM-UDA talks are collapsing, making it clear that formal negotiations have not even begun. He revealed that no negotiating team has been formed yet to craft any pre-election pact with the President’s side.
While key leaders in the party, speaking after a charged meeting by the party’s top decision-making organ, said ODM had suspended coalition talks to refocus on popularising ODM ahead of the next polls, Dr Oginga clarified that the negotiations were yet to commence in the first place.
“There are no talks that have stalled between ODM and UDA. We cannot stop what has not started. We have not even formed a negotiating team and therefore there is no issue we are putting a break to,” said Dr Oginga.
The ODM’s Central Management Committee expressed frustrations over what they termed a coordinated scheme to undermine the party, resolving to have its members stop campaigning for Dr Ruto’s re-election bid until the concerns are addressed.
From left: Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga, and ODM Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo address journalists during a press conference by the party’s committee at the Swiss-Belinn Hotel in Nairobi on April 16, 2026.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
Dr Oginga was speaking at a Kisumu Hotel after a meeting with the clergy from the region. The church leaders had come to pray for him and pledge their support for the ODM Party.
The zoning controversy has dominated political chatter for the past week, especially during Dr Oginga’s trip to London, exposing fresh cracks and unease within party ranks.
“I want to put this matter of zoning to rest,” declared Dr Oginga. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with zoning. But there is no zoning now. As ODM we are not concerned with parties we are not negotiating with. Our focus is UDA, and talks with them are what matter,” said Dr Oginga.
He stated that the matter is among the items on the table when they sit to negotiate with President Ruto’s party.
“Zoning is one of the many subjects we will discuss with UDA. These are some of the agenda being prepared by our technical team which will be made public soon,” said Dr Oginga.
However, Dr Oginga backed zoning, saying ODM must protect its strongholds.
“Anybody who is saying we should not protect our territory is wrong. If they don’t want to protect their seats and fear they will lose in ODM, let them join other parties. We are in a democracy and we do not bar anyone from moving to another party,” said Dr Oginga.
He said the majority of members of parliament, MCAs and governors in Nyanza, Western, Coast, Nairobi and many other areas are elected on ODM tickets.
In the coming elections, Dr Oginga said the Orange outfit will not cede these seats to other parties.
“We are not ready to cede these electoral seats we already have to any other party. We are going to compete fiercely. What we are saying is that we do not want to compete with people we are going into partnership with. They are the only ones we don’t want to interfere with our people who are already there,” said Dr Oginga.
He, however, warned the ODM elected members not to sit pretty because of the zoning of the country.
He stated that all the aspirants who want to contest for the seats should apply for the positions, assuring them that the process of nominations will be free and fair.
“But our people who are there, do not sleep thinking that those positions are yours automatically. We have already opened our portal for all ODM aspirants who want to contest so that they start applying for seats ranging from MCA to the President so that we know who is interested in what. There will be free and fair nominations in the ODM Party,” said Dr Oginga.
Dr Oginga also warned UDA leaders against undermining his party, saying ODM is the strongest party in Africa.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi at the Senate.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
He condemned Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar for claiming ODM is finished, saying they must respect where they came from and a party that helped them to where they are at the moment.
“I am disappointed in my Speaker and the UDA Secretary General who are ungrateful to ODM which made them governor, senator and ministers. I respect President Ruto but he should discipline his UDA officials who have been disrespectful to ODM,” he said.
The ODM Party Leader also acknowledged the government’s effort to solve the fuel crisis in the country, saying the reduction of the Value Added Tax on Petroleum products from 16 to eight per cent was a step in the right direction, but not enough to cushion Kenyans against the turmoil.
“I told the president that the people are not feeling comfortable with the increase of fuel prices to a record high. I appreciate the measures being taken to reduce the price, but I will still push the government so that we get further relief,” said Dr Oginga.
