Divisions over zoning, Sifuna post rock ODM MPs' meeting

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will insist on a zoning plan as it enters into structured negotiations with President William Ruto’s UDA party ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The resolution was the product of a stormy ODM Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting yesterday, during which members are said to have decried continued inroads by UDA into its traditional strongholds, such as the Coast region, even as the two parties draw closer to hashing out a deal aimed at forming the next government.

The issue of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s removal as Secretary-General also featured in the meeting, although it was not adequately canvassed as members sought to avert any further fallout.

Sources who spoke to The Standard yesterday revealed that divisions rocked the hours-long meeting as members deliberated on whether to adopt a zoning approach or give free rein to partner parties to field candidates in their support bases ahead of the elections.

The matter arose after Kilifi Woman Representative Getrude Mbeyu protested what she described as UDA encroaching on ODM’s support bases, such as the Coast region, a traditional stronghold of the Orange party.

She expressed concern that UDA had already fronted four candidates for various positions within Kilifi County.

“The member insisted on the need to have zoning so that ODM keeps its support bases intact and ensures that its presence and influence are not diminished by getting into a coalition pact with UDA,” said a source who sought anonymity.

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina was, however, opposed to zoning efforts, instead advocating for the broad-based government to jointly field candidates to ensure the strongest emerged victorious.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed emphasised that the party would insist on a zoning strategy and would not cede political ground to partner parties.

He explained that in areas considered ODM strongholds and where the party already has elected members, the positions were not up for negotiation.

“We are going to ensure that we strengthen our party and retain every parliamentary seat, including those at the National Assembly and the Senate. I want to tell all other parties out there that we can negotiate on anything but not our parliamentary strength,” stated Junet.

“We plan to increase our numbers in the next elections so that we can remain the biggest party. We are going to form a government come 2027,” he added.

Those present at the meeting also received a progress report on the UDA-ODM 10-point deal ahead of its official unveiling next Tuesday at KICC. The document is set to be unveiled during a wider, broad-based government PG meeting.

“We expect that the families of those who lost their lives in the post-election violence that has rocked the country since 2017 will be compensated. We expect that the money for their compensation will be included in the Supplementary Budget to be tabled before the House this week,” observed Junet.

The PG also endorsed decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) taken in its last three meetings and resolved to give party leader Oburu Odinga the go-ahead to officially commence negotiations with other like-minded parties, such as UDA.

“The PG also endorsed a decision to hold the party’s National Delegates Conference on March 27,” added Junet.

It also emerged that members were split over an earlier decision to dewhip Sifuna as ODM Secretary-General. Whereas a section endorsed the move, terming it necessary to ensure members adhered to party positions, others — such as Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo — warned that it could lead to further disintegration of the party and called for unity.

Sources, however, revealed that the meeting steered away from the topic and avoided discussing scheduled leadership changes within the party to avert further fallout.

ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen said, “We had not come here to discuss individuals. The meeting was there to appraise MPs on the party's position on various matters so that we can move forward as a group. No debate on Sifuna’s removal was to be done today.”

The PG followed a purge of MPs opposed to the broad-based government in Parliament, which threatens to fracture ODM’s support base further ahead of next year’s elections.

Last Tuesday, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi were removed from their committees in a move initiated by UDA and sanctioned by a section of ODM leaders. The changes followed attempts by the ODM National Executive Committee to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General.

Omondi was ejected from the Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC) and replaced by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, an ally of President William Ruto. Tiaty MP William Kamket was installed as the committee’s new chairperson.

Omondi, a vocal critic of the broad-based arrangement and recently appointed Secretary-General of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, protested his removal.

Kibagendi, who is serving a suspension from the House after claiming Parliament had been turned into an appendage of the Executive, was also removed from the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, where he served as vice-chairperson. He was replaced by newly elected Kasipul MP Boyd Were.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga was moved from the Agriculture Committee to the Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.

Ruth, sister of the late Raila Odinga, has publicly criticised the broad-based arrangement and is a supporter of ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.

Lawmakers allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were also affected. Geoffrey Wandeto was removed from the Regional Development Committee and reassigned to the Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services.

Conversely, newly aligned allies of the broad-based government, such as Juja MP George Koimburi, were appointed to influential committees. Koimburi was named to both the Regional Integration Committee and the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee.

Marakwet MP Timothy Kipchumba was moved from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

New entrant MP Leo Wamuthende secured a slot on the Environment, Mining, and Forestry Committee.