Cracks Show in Broad-Based Alliance as ODM and UDA Differ Over Zoning Talks
Fresh political differences are beginning to show within the broad-based alliance as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) take opposing positions on zoning ahead of possible pre-election talks for the 2027 General Election.
The disagreement is already exposing clear divisions between the two parties, with UDA making it known that it plans to field candidates across the country, while ODM leaders are insisting that zoning must be respected, especially in areas the party considers its long-standing political strongholds.
The issue came into sharper focus on Sunday, April 6, when senior ODM leaders, led by party chairperson Gladys Wanga, spoke in Kisumu and strongly defended the zoning proposal.
According to the leaders, zoning will be one of the key non-negotiable issues that must be addressed before ODM can comfortably enter any formal pre-election arrangement with UDA.
Wanga made it clear that ODM does not intend to approach any talks from a position of weakness. She emphasized that if the two parties are to sit at the same negotiation table, ODM expects to be treated as an equal political partner with significant influence and bargaining power.
She stressed that the party’s strength across the country, and particularly in its support bases, must be fully recognized before any coalition framework is agreed upon.
Her remarks were echoed by several ODM lawmakers who also insisted that the party will not accept attempts by UDA to sponsor candidates in regions traditionally dominated by ODM.
Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga strongly defended the party’s position, saying ODM remains a powerful political force capable of fielding candidates in every corner of the country if it chooses to do so. She warned that the party will not simply praise any alliance arrangement unless its political strength is respected and acknowledged during the discussions.
The same hardline stance was repeated by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who argued that ODM strongholds must remain exclusively reserved for the Orange party. According to him, zoning should not even be up for debate because the party cannot allow political interference in areas where its support has remained firm for years.
Atandi specifically pointed to constituencies such as Muhoroni and other ODM-friendly zones, insisting that UDA should stay away from those regions if genuine partnership talks are to succeed.
However, UDA has moved quickly to reject ODM’s demands, setting the stage for a more intense political contest between the two sides.
Speaking in Kilifi on Saturday, April 4, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar dismissed the zoning proposal and maintained that every political party in Kenya has a constitutional and democratic right to field candidates in any region of the country.
Omar directly challenged ODM’s claim over the Coast region, saying no political party can claim ownership of an entire region because such areas belong to the people who live there, not to political organizations.
He argued that if ODM truly believes certain regions are its strongholds, then it should have no reason to fear open competition.
In his view, the best way to prove political strength is by allowing free and fair campaigns and letting voters decide at the ballot.
The growing disagreement now raises fresh questions about the future stability of the broad-based political arrangement between the two parties.
While the current fallout may appear small on the surface, it comes at a sensitive political moment, with the 2027 General Election drawing closer and coalition-building efforts expected to intensify in the coming months.
Political observers may view this zoning dispute as an early warning sign that deeper disagreements could emerge later, potentially slowing efforts to build a united and stable alliance capable of moving forward with one voice.
Importantly, zoning is only one of the several major demands ODM has consistently raised ahead of any possible coalition talks with UDA.
The party has previously insisted on a 50-50 power-sharing formula in any coalition agreement, arguing that both sides must enjoy equal influence in government and political decision-making.
In addition, ODM has repeatedly listed the deputy presidency as one of its key irreducible minimums, signaling that the party wants a guaranteed share of top leadership positions before fully committing to any electoral partnership.
Taken together, these demands show that while both parties may still be exploring the possibility of working together, major political hurdles remain.
The zoning standoff, combined with ODM’s push for equal power-sharing and senior leadership positions, suggests that negotiations could become more complex as the country moves closer to the 2027 polls.
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