The former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has ruled out zoning within the United Opposition, saying it will only be applicable in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa.

Speaking during an interview with K24 TV and other radio stations affiliated with Mediamax, the outspoken United Opposition figure stated that, in preparation for the 2027 elections, no party within their formation should be barred from fielding candidates in certain areas.

He categorically pointed at his DCP party, saying that it will field candidates all over the country.

He further stated that there is no reason for “friendly fire” in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa, which, according to him, have unique political dynamics that require a more coordinated approach to gubernatorial elections rather than a divided front.

“There will be no zoning in the United Opposition, maybe in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa, because there is no need of friendly fire,” he said.

Owalo dismisses zoning talks

This comes amid ongoing zoning debates within their rivals in the broad-based coalition, with leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement accusing the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of encroaching on their strongholds and insisting that zoning must be respected.

Other leaders, such as former deputy chief of staff Eliud Owalo, have come out to add their voice in the zoning talks, rejecting it and saying that it undermines the spirit of multipartisanship.

He also added that the practice undermines the spirit of the 2010 Constitution, which promotes democratic participation and political diversity across the country.

According to him, restricting regions to specific political parties creates a situation where alternative candidates are automatically disadvantaged, even if they may have strong development agendas.

“The issue of political zoning, first of all, is wrong. That’s the bottom line. It is wrong because what is the net effect of political zoning? If you say, for example, that in Western Kenya, a given political party is the one that should fill candidates in that region, the net effect is that anybody who does not get the party ticket falls by the wayside because there is no substitute,” the 2027 presidential hopeful maintained.

Otiende rejects zoning.

Rarieda MP Otieno Omollo has come out holding a similar view, giving both the advantages and the flip side of zoning.

On the positive side, according to Otiende, it can promote democracy, but on the flip side, it can undermine it.

He stated that even former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was against zoning and the idea of having leaders elected from a single party, even in his Nyanza stronghold, instead advocating for multiple parties to win seats. He added that zoning can sideline popular politicians simply because they do not belong to the dominant party in a region.