ODM leaders push for zoning, accuse UDA of raiding their strongholds

A section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators now want the party to push for zoning of political regions, lamenting what they described as a raid of their strongholds by their United Democratic Alliance (UDA) counterparts under the broad-based political arrangement.

Speaking after the ODM Parliamentary Group meeting held in Nairobi on Tuesday, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed warned that the party will not cede any ground in Parliament to any outfit seeking to work with them. 

The four-hour closed-door Parliamentary Group meeting brought together warring factions within the ODM to take stock of recent turbulence that has threatened to divide the party.

During the session, some members raised concerns that UDA members and aspirants had taken advantage of their cooperation under the broad-based government to edge them out of their traditional ODM bases.

A Member of Parliament from the Coastal region lamented that she is likely to face stiff competition for her seat, with four candidates from the UDA side having shown interest.

Some leaders threatened to exit the arrangement should their counterparts refuse to employ zoning of political regions - concerns that caught the attention of the party leadership.

“We want to increase our numbers in the next General Election from what we have today. We want to tell any party that we are associating with that our Parliamentary numbers are not negotiable. We can negotiate on anything but not on our Parliamentary strength," said Junet.

The leaders assured concerned members that the matter will be handled at the highest level as negotiations begin between President William Ruto and ODM leader Dr. Oburu Oginga on the 2027 coalition.

“We have given our party leader the mandate to come up with the plan, and all those issues of zoning you are raising will be part and parcel of the deliberations," Junet stated.

The UDA legislators had raised similar concerns one month ago during a UDA National Governing Council meeting.

“We, the children of the House, are very worried, because those people who have been in the house are sidelined when children from outside come," Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana stated.

The leaders also raised concerns over the effect of the Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi parallel rallies, which they said had split supporters down the middle, leaving some confused.

Although the broad-based leaning team led by ODM party leader Dr. Oburu maintained its position on respecting the party’s stance, there were also calls by the Linda Mwananchi wing during the meeting to allow democracy within the party.

The Parliamentary Group meeting also approved plans to hold the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) on March 27 this year.

The committee on the implementation of the 10-point agenda between UDA and ODM is expected to present its report next Tuesday.

This comes as Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur was elected chairperson of the Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC), replacing Suba South legislator Caroli Omondi, who was removed from the committee by the ODM party.