President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has opened discussions with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to develop a framework for addressing the simmering dispute over zoning ahead of the 2027 General Election, as tensions continue to emerge within and between the two parties.
UDA National Chairperson Cecily Mbarire on Wednesday indicated that the matter had now been escalated to the highest level of leadership, with President Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga expected to lead consultations that could shape a possible pre-election pact.
“The matter is now before the leadership of the two parties and there are discussions that will be taking place in due course,” Ms Mbarire said.
“To look at some of those issues, of course, in any coalition there are always pre-election agreements that must be reached, and there must be agreement on how the partnership will go all the way to the General Election,” she added.
Her remarks signal an effort by both parties to contain growing anxiety over zoning — a political strategy in which coalition partners agree not to field candidates against each other in certain regions.
Ms Mbarire, however, acknowledged that the issue remains at an early stage, noting that party structures on both sides are yet to formally engage.
“That is a matter that has not yet been properly prosecuted before the party structures on both sides and so in the coming days, you are going to see this conversation take shape,” she said.
“There will be a lot of cross-party conversations around it and the same will be communicated once clear decisions are made.”
She said the two parties are currently treating emerging claims and counterclaims as personal views rather than official positions.
“Whatever issues are emerging in the coalition will definitely be looked at and we will come back to you with the final and official position,” she said.
The zoning debate has dominated political discourse in recent days, exposing cracks within ODM and raising questions about the viability of a broader coalition arrangement.
While some ODM leaders had claimed talks with UDA had stalled, ODM leader Oburu Oginga dismissed the assertions, saying formal negotiations had not yet begun.
“There are no talks that have stalled between ODM and UDA. We cannot stop what has not started,” he said.
“We have not even formed a negotiating team and therefore there is no issue we are putting a break to.”
At the same time, Mr Oginga sought to draw boundaries around ODM’s position, saying any zoning arrangement would primarily involve UDA and not necessarily other parties within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“I want to put this matter of zoning to rest. There is absolutely nothing wrong with zoning. But there is no zoning now,” he said.
“As ODM, we are not concerned with parties we are not negotiating with. Our focus is UDA, and talks with them are what matter.”
He confirmed that zoning would be among the issues for discussion once formal negotiations begin, revealing that a technical team is already preparing the agenda.
“Zoning is one of the many subjects we will discuss with UDA. These are some of the agenda items being prepared by our technical team which will be made public soon,” he said.
Even so, the ODM leader maintained that the party would not surrender its political strongholds in the name of coalition building, stressing the need to protect regions where it has historically dominated.
“Anybody who is saying we should not protect our territory is wrong. If they do not want to protect their seats and fear they will lose in ODM, let them join other parties,” he said.
Mr Oginga said ODM still commands significant support in Nyanza, Western, Coast and parts of Nairobi, where many elected leaders hold office on the party’s ticket.
“We are not ready to cede these electoral seats we already have to any other party. We are going to compete fiercely,” he said.
“What we are saying is that we do not want to compete with people we are going into partnership with.”
He added that while zoning could influence inter-party competition, it would not eliminate internal contests, warning sitting leaders against complacency.
“But our people who are there should not sleep thinking those positions are theirs automatically,” he said.
“We have already opened our portal for all ODM aspirants who want to contest so that they start applying for seats. There will be free and fair nominations in the ODM Party.”
The dispute has also triggered public friction between ODM and some UDA officials, with Mr Oginga accusing sections of the ruling party of undermining ODM’s standing.
“I am disappointed. They must respect where they came from and a party that helped them get to where they are,” he said in reference to remarks by some UDA leaders.
However, Ms Mbarire defended UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar against calls for his removal, dismissing the demands as unofficial and premature.
She said UDA had not received any formal communication from ODM on the matter and insisted that established channels exist for resolving disputes.
“We are not aware of any such demands by ODM, but when that communication reaches us through the proper channels, we shall respond appropriately,” she said.
“For now, we have a Secretary-General who is firmly in office and continues to discharge his mandate. That position has not changed, and they know we have a system of communication with each other.”
