Why Ruto is stone deaf on ODM demands on zoning
Politics
By
Ndung’u Gachane
| Apr 23, 2026
[Benard Orwongo, Standard]
President William Ruto has dismissed the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) demands on zoning, choosing to press ahead despite threats from his broad-based partners to walk away from their working arrangement.
As ODM leaders, including Oburu Oginga and Gladys Wanga, continue to warn of a possible collapse of pre-election talks, the President has remained silent, leaving his allies to dismiss the concerns and insist on their right to field candidates nationwide.
While the Oburu-Wanga faction continues to push for zoning in pre-election negotiations, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has intensified its recruitment drive in perceived ODM strongholds, positioning key allies to popularise President Ruto’s two-term agenda.
In the Nyanza region, pro-Ruto figures working behind the scenes include Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, former Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, and former governors Jack Ranguma and Okoth Obado.
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Others include former MPs Fred Outa, Nicholas Gumbo, Martin Ogindo, Rose Nyamunga, Edick Anyanga, and former police spokesperson Charles Owino.
In the Coast region, also considered an ODM stronghold, Ruto’s allies outside the ODM-UDA framework include Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar, presidential adviser Karisa Zai, Sports CS Salim Mvurya, and former CS Aisha Jumwa.
They argue that with the political shift following the absence of ODM leader Raila Odinga, the Coast region is now politically competitive.
Kingi maintained that ODM’s dominance in the Coast had waned, adding that with his Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party stepping back from fielding candidates, “the Coast interests will be catered by the UDA party.”
Jumwa said: “The only elective position that will not be contested is that of the Presidency, otherwise all candidates for all other positions will have to fight it out.”
She added that the region was now open politically, arguing that “the only leader who has a following like that of Raila is President Ruto.”
Political analysts say Ruto’s resistance to zoning is part of a broader strategy to weaken ODM’s parliamentary influence ahead of the next election cycle.
Labour Party National Organising Secretary Joe Nene said the President’s approach is aimed at consolidating control.
“Ruto has his own men in ODM strongholds who are busy campaigning for UDA aspirants, he wants them to be elected so that he can do as he wishes as the UDA-sponsored MPs will only be required to be whipped to vote in favour of the government,” Nene said.
He added “While Raila fought for a multi-party state, he has never allowed it to thrive in the Nyanza region while forcing the region to back his ODM party. But for Ruto he is opposed to zoning for different reasons, ODM is only strong on Nyanza and Coast that is where he insists on fielding candidates.”
Political scientist Kamau Wairuri said the strategy could also be aimed at compensating for potential losses in regions that backed Ruto in 2022.
“That could be one of the reasons the President is ignorant of ODM’s demands, since he is aware that he doesn’t have lieutenants from Mt Kenya and Western regions, he can only compensate those numbers from the ODM strongholds,” he said.
He added “If ODM and UDA field candidates Ruto will be assured of his Presidential vote as they will mobilize and probably ferry their supporters to come out to vote which will be different in case of zoning.”
Wairuri further argued that Ruto’s influence within ODM had weakened the party’s bargaining power.
“One of the main problems ODM faces is that they let Ruto direct and control the party in terms of its leaders... denying them the legitimacy to dictate certain procedures,” he said.
He concluded “The ODM leaders have less options, they will still follow what Ruto wants as they seem to have closed the window of talking to the United Opposition.”