Governor Gladys Wanga was hosting President William Ruto at Tom Mboya University during the county's second International Investment Conference.
A fresh demand by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to have the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) blocked from fielding candidates in its traditional bastions in 2027 is threatening a major political conflict within the broad-based government.
Although the ODM party has given the strongest hints possible of its decision to back President William Ruto’s re-election, it has warned UDA against any political encroachment.
The party is seeking to ring-fence its traditional political bastions to maintain its influence within the political arrangement with President Ruto.
Insiders believe that it is only by retaining its traditional bastions that ODM would have a substantive stake in the next government.
President William Ruto is pictured with Dr Oburu Oginga at the 5th Piny Luo Festival on Senye Beach in Nyatike, Migori County.
Its influence is, however, threatened by the emergence of new regional political parties, especially in Gusii and Western Kenya. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) are perceived to be gaining traction in Gusii and Western, respectively.
Some of the ODM elected members have already shown signs of decamping in the run-up to the 2027 General Election over fears of being shortchanged in the primaries.
ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga made the demand for zoning. It has since rattled some UDA members in ODM regions. It has also rattled some ODM members who want options in the event they feel shortchanged in the party primaries.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga and National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed.
Ms Wanga, while speaking at the weekend in Awasi in Kisumu County, said the deal between ODM and UDA was against any political encroachment.
“We are in a broad-based government as ODM, and amongst our agreements is that there is no encroachment,” said Governor Wanga.
Riddled with infighting and the emergence of political camps, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM is apprehensive of political forays by UDA in its regions like Nyanza, Western and Coast. Dr Ruto’s allies in the said regions are also seeking to exploit the partnership to gain a footing in the regions.
Other fringe parties like the Movement for Growth and Democracy (MDG) of Ugenya MP David Ochieng’ are also making inroads in the regions, with a plan to benefit from ODM nomination fallout.
ODM has been for successive elections been faulted for not conducting free and fair nominations in successive elections. Those apprehensive of being shortchanged in the party primaries are already plotting to join other partner parties ahead of the next elections.
Zoning the region also implies that UDA members seeking to run for elective positions would be locked out. Those opposed to such an arrangement say agreeing to zoning would deny the region the right leaders. There are also fears that it could lead to voter apathy, which in turn hurts Dr Ruto’s re-election.
Former Nairobi City County Governor Evans Kidero.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, a UDA member, told Daily Nation that they would fight any attempt to zone Nyanza. Dr Kidero said the people should have options in electing the right leaders.
He said the region has to honour Mr Odinga by allowing multiparty democracy to thrive.
“Zoning is killing democracy. We will not accept it,” said Dr Kidero.
UDA Chairman for Homa Bay, Kennedy Obuya, said the party would field candidates in all elective positions in Luo Nyanza to allow people have options in picking their leaders.
“As UDA we will have candidates in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties. Our people will have the mandate of electing their leaders. There is no broad-based without UDA,” said Mr Obuya.
In the recent Kasipul by-elections, critics accused the party of alleged mismanagement of nominations, a scenario that saw some of the aspirants jump ship to run as independent candidates.
Top party officials were seen to favour Boyd Were – son to the slain area MP Charles Were – even before the party held its nominations.
It is on this basis of possible bungling of primaries that some leaders want ODM bastions opened up for other political parties. Some ODM members also feel that they could be unfairly targeted for being rebels.
On Sunday, while addressing mourners at the late Cyrus Jiringo’s Lugari home, Ms Wanga and ODM co-deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi assured party supporters that the party will remain united going into 2027.
“There are many people who think ODM will disintegrate because Raila is not with us. I can tell you that the party will continue being strong.”
“We remain in broad based so that our people can get development. But we will have to talk with our partners so that we know what is there for us after the 2027 elections. Once we agree, we will walk together as a team,” said Ms Wanga.
ODM deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi.
Mr Osotsi said Western is solidly in ODM as the country prepares for the next election. He, however, cautioned other ODM leaders from making an impression that ODM is a Luo Nyanza party.
“I have heard some people say that Luhyas should leave ODM. We will remain in ODM because this is a party that we have invested in ODM for years.”
“As a community, we have to be consulted in every decision to be made by the party. Interests of our community in the party have to be protected. All leaders must not make ODM to look like a Luo party,” said Mr Osotsi.
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, who has declared interest in running for Migori governor on the ODM ticket that has sponsored him to Parliament for two terms, called on the party leadership to ensure free and fair party primaries.
Mr Nyamita said the party will only retain its position of influence if the people are allowed to elect their leaders.
The lawmaker is among a host of politicians from the region who are in support of the broad-based government and are rallying for President Ruto’s re-election through the deal between ODM and UDA.
“The strength of ODM post Raila lies in conducting credible party primaries. My position is simple ODM must conduct credible nominations in the forthcoming elections,” said Mr Nyamita.
He explained that it is in the absence of a credible nomination that some party members may feel disenfranchised and seek alternative vehicles.
“It is in the absence of such credibility that some people may be forced to seek other alternatives in the pursuit of great service to our people. But we are clear, that we remain united under ODM,” he explained.
He said it will be in the interest of the party to conduct credible nominations so as to have popular candidates that can win and boost the outfit’s numerical strength in Parliament, County Assemblies and at the Council of Governors.
Speaking at the fifth Piny Luo Festival at Rongo University last week, Dr Ruto urged ODM leaders to strengthen party unity, saying Mr Odinga had encouraged cooperation between ODM and UDA in the interest of national development.
“ODM should also put their house in order so that we unite. Raila told me to unite the country,” the President said.
ODM is facing a major unity test following the death of its founding party leader, Mr Odinga. The former premier was a unifying figure in the 20-year-old political party. His death on October 15 has since exposed the party’s soft political underbelly, with some of the party’s elected leaders seeking to quit.
In a recent interview with Daily Nation, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi said he would not defend his seat on ODM because of the party’s history of bungled nominations.
“Do you think even in the recent by-elections (Kasipul) there were credible nominations? People must have choices. Where people will unite is at the presidential vote. But these other positions, people should come in different political parties,” said Mr Omondi.
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