As Kenya edges closer to the 2027 General Election, early political maneuvering between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is taking shape.
Publicly, both parties have signaled intentions to cooperate through a pre-coalition framework aimed at minimizing electoral clashes, coordinating candidate placements, and consolidating regional strongholds.
The arrangement, confirmed in past statements by William Ruto and Oburu Oginga, is designed to leverage each party’s traditional support bases—UDA across the Rift Valley and parts of Western Kenya, and ODM in Nyanza—while avoiding multi-party contests that could dilute allied votes.
Fresh details now emerging suggest the agreement may include a zoning formula that could reshape competition in western Kenya.
According to insiders, the United Democratic Alliance would refrain from fielding candidates in the Nyanza region, effectively allowing the Orange Democratic Movement to dominate contests in its traditional stronghold.
The Siaya senator is reported to have shared elements of the plan during a closed-door meeting of Luo Nyanza leaders held on Saturday, February 21, at the home of Sam Atandi in Siaya County.
The meeting, convened ahead of a regional rally, focused on consolidating unity and aligning regional leaders with the anticipated political framework.
Leaders present resolved that Nyanza would be treated as an ODM political zone, with the party expected to control elective contests while allied parties avoid sponsoring rival candidates.
Speaking after the meeting, Atandi confirmed the consensus, saying the region would be left to ODM under the zoning arrangement.
“Yes, it was agreed that there is going to be zoning. We have said Nyanza is an ODM zone and it will be left to ODM. Other parties allied to us will not field candidates in the region,” he said.
Although the details remain unofficial, the reported arrangement points to an early strategy of negotiated strongholds as political actors position themselves for 2027.
Zoning agreements have historically been used to minimize intra-coalition competition, consolidate voting blocs, and maximize overall electoral gains.
If formalized, the deal could significantly reduce political rivalry in Nyanza while strengthening ODM’s regional dominance.