Suba North MP aspirant and former aide of Raila Odinga, Silas Jakakimba, has challenged Homa Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma over his defence of political zoning, arguing that pre-election pacts and historical party strongholds will not determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
In a pointed statement, Jakakimba said the electorate will make decisions based on the performance of current leaders and the credibility of new aspirants’ development agendas, rather than party arrangements.
“All current elected leaders seeking re-election in 2027 will only be re-elected based on citizens’ audit of their performance and not pre-election pacts,” he said, emphasizing that voters are increasingly focused on tangible results and grassroots priorities.
Jakakimba criticized Kaluma’s reference to the United States electoral system and Kenya’s past coalition history, describing it as “a foolhardy and clear manifestation of gaps in understanding how electoral colleges and mass voter patterns operate.”
He suggested that the emphasis on party strongholds and coalition arrangements reflected “a poverty of memory or clarity on the nation’s recent political history,” and questioned the relevance of such arguments in a changing political landscape.
The UDA aspirant argued that voters will prioritize development-focused agendas over party loyalty or ego-driven strategies.
“Our people will make ballot choices not on party choices but purely on platforms and formations of candidates that already do, and will continue to, prime grassroots development priorities over selfish interests,” Jakakimba said.
He warned that no amount of political maneuvering or pre-election zoning could shield incumbents from voter scrutiny.
Jakakimba, who has declared his intention to contest the Suba North MP seat in 2027 under the United Democratic Alliance banner, positioned his message as a challenge to entrenched political practices.
By questioning the assumption that regional strongholds guarantee electoral victories, he highlighted the shift toward performance-based politics, reflecting a growing expectation among constituents for accountability and effective governance.
His response underscores a growing tension in Homa Bay County politics, where ODM has traditionally dominated, particularly in Luo Nyanza.
Kaluma’s earlier statements emphasized the party’s intent to protect its strongholds and insisted that coalition partners respect these zones, describing the approach as “non-negotiable.”
Jakakimba, however, framed such assertions as increasingly out of step with voter expectations, portraying them as protective of party interests rather than the electorate’s developmental needs.
Jakakimba concluded with a direct warning to Kaluma, stating unequivocally that the electorate will not “save” incumbents based on party affiliation alone.
His remarks signal a competitive political environment ahead of the 2027 elections, where performance, local development, and candidate credibility may increasingly outweigh historical party dominance in shaping electoral outcomes in Homa Bay and across Kenya.