President William Ruto with ODM party leader Dr Oburu Odinga at a past function….Photo/courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya
Kenyan politics has once again entered its favorite Olympic sport: contradiction gymnastics.
And this season’s headline event? Zoning.
After the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) boldly declared it will field candidates everywhere—yes, even in places where opponents thought they had “reserved parking”—the opposition, led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is suddenly clutching the zoning handbook like it’s the Constitution itself.
Except… here’s the awkward question nobody wants to answer:
If ODM is as popular as it says, why does it need zoning like a lifeline?
The Great Kenyan Political Paradox™
Zoning, for the uninitiated, is that magical political arrangement where parties agree:
“You take this seat, I take that one, and voters… well… they’ll understand.”
It’s less democracy, more group project where one guy does everything and still shares marks.
Now ODM argues zoning helps avoid splitting votes and keeps “friendly fire” to a minimum.
Fair enough—until UDA shows up and says, essentially:
“We’re contesting everywhere. May the best hustler win.”
Cue panic.Because suddenly, zoning doesn’t look like strategy—it looks like fear of competition wearing a coalition T-shirt.
Youthful MPs: “Zoning Is Political Nepotism in Disguise”
A growing number of younger legislators and aspirants are not buying the zoning gospel.
Figures such as:
Babu Owino
Didmus Barasa
John Kiarie
Esther Passaris (though more nuanced in tone)
and several emerging youth leaders across parties
have, in various forums and public debates, raised concerns that zoning:
Locks out new entrants
Blocks youth and women from fair competition
Rewards party insiders over merit
And most dangerously, contradicts the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees political rights and equal opportunity
Their argument is simple and brutally logical:
“If voters are sovereign, why are politicians pre-deciding outcomes in boardrooms?”
One youthful aspirant quipped online:
“Zoning is basically telling young people: ‘Wait your turn… indefinitely.’”
Constitutional Headache
Kenya’s Constitution is quite clear about:
Political rights
Freedom to contest
Non-discrimination
Critics argue zoning walks a very thin line—some say it bulldozes right over it—by informally excluding candidates based on political agreements rather than voter choice.
In short:
Zoning might not be illegal on paper, but politically, it smells like a VIP lane in a country that promised equal roads.
ODM’s Tightrope Walk
ODM now finds itself in a tricky spot:
Push zoning → risk alienating youth, women, and new aspirants
Drop zoning → risk internal competition and fragmented votes
It’s like trying to eat ugali and keep it whole at the same time.
And let’s be honest—ODM’s internal history suggests that zoning doesn’t eliminate chaos; it just reschedules it.
Kenya Kwanza: Unity… or Future Civil War?
Ironically, UDA’s “field candidates everywhere” approach may look bold, but it carries its own ticking time bomb.
Within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, smaller allied parties could soon start asking:
“So… are we partners or spectators?”
If UDA dominates every race:
Allies feel sidelined
Internal resentment grows
2027 primaries turn into a political WWE match
So while ODM wrestles with zoning, Kenya Kwanza may soon discover that too much freedom can also cause chaos.
So, What Happens Next?
Three likely scenarios:
ODM sticks with zoning
→ Short-term order, long-term rebellion from youth and sidelined aspirants
ODM abandons zoning
→ Internal competition explodes, but gains democratic legitimacy
UDA’s open-field strategy backfires
→ Coalition cracks widen as smaller parties demand “their zones” too
Democracy vs Convenience
At its core, this isn’t just about ODM or UDA.
It’s about a bigger question:
Should elections be decided by voters—or negotiated like business mergers?
Because right now, zoning looks less like political strategy…
and more like fear of the very democracy politicians claim to defend.
And as 2027 approaches, one thing is clear:
Kenyan voters may be the only ones not invited to the zoning meeting—but they’ll still have the final say.
