President William Ruto has held a meeting with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Steering Committee amid the zoning clash.

In a statement on his official X account on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Ruto, while confirming the strategic meeting, noted that he co-chaired the meeting alongside ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga at State House, Nairobi.

“Co-chaired the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Steering Committee meeting alongside ODM Party Leader Hon. @DrOburu_O, State House Nairobi,” Ruto stated.

ODM,UDA zoning clash

The meeting comes as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has intensified its political strategy to consolidate support in Kenya’s coastal region ahead of the 2027 General Elections, setting the stage for a fresh political contest with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) amid a growing dispute over zoning.

The latest developments come amid shifting political dynamics within the broad-based government, as both parties position themselves for dominance in key regions.

While ODM has traditionally enjoyed significant support along the Coast, UDA is now mounting an aggressive grassroots campaign to reshape the region’s political chessboard.

Speaking at Burhani grounds in Mombasa on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar outlined the party’s plan to expand its footprint through coordinated mobilisation efforts at the village level, emphasising that local leaders would play a central role in building support networks and rallying voters behind the party’s agenda.

Omar noted that UDA’s strategy is anchored on inclusivity and open political competition, rejecting any attempts to limit where candidates can contest.

“Anybody who wants to vie against UDA in our strongholds is welcome, and we won’t stop anyone. Similarly, for us, we don’t want anybody to tell us that we cannot file candidates in their strongholds. If it’s your stronghold, why are you worried? If they are your members, which problem do you have when UDA candidates vie? Why the panic?” Omar posed.

His remarks reflect UDA’s broader national posture against zoning, a proposal being pushed by ODM as part of potential coalition arrangements ahead of 2027. Zoning typically involves political parties agreeing not to field candidates against each other in designated strongholds to avoid splitting votes.