Homa Bay Town MP Kaluma has defended the Orange Democratic Movement’s zoning approach, saying it is a practical political strategy meant to strengthen coalition performance by avoiding internal competition and protecting vote blocs ahead of elections.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation on Wednesday, he argued that political parties must coordinate closely when working in coalitions to prevent splitting votes in areas where they have strong support, noting that such divisions could weaken their chances of winning both the presidency and other elective seats.
He explained that ODM has historically operated within pre-election coalitions, pointing to past alliances such as the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and the National Super Alliance (NASA), which were formed to unify parties under shared electoral goals.
According to him, zoning begins at the top level of leadership, where coalition partners agree on a single presidential candidate to rally behind, allowing the parties to consolidate their support bases instead of competing against each other.
“And so you field a single presidential candidate for whom all the member parties fight,” he said.
He added that the same principle extends to other elective positions, where coalition partners are expected to avoid fielding rival candidates in the same areas, in order to maintain unity and improve electoral outcomes.
“You will also field a single candidate as a coalition and that is where zoning gets properly defined.”
The zoning discussion within ODM has gained attention in the build-up to the 2027 elections, especially amid ongoing cooperation talks involving the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), with some leaders proposing regional allocation of political contests to reduce internal clashes.
The idea, which is said to be supported by some leaders aligned to inter-party collaboration, seeks to assign regions to specific parties so that each party focuses on its strongholds, thereby avoiding competition within the same coalition and improving overall performance.
However, the proposal has sparked internal disagreements within ODM, with several leaders openly rejecting the strategy and insisting that it goes against the principles of multiparty democracy.
Among those opposed are Millie Odhiambo of Suba North, Elisha Odhiambo of Gem, Jared Okello of Nyando, and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, who have maintained that ODM has traditionally presented candidates across the country without limiting competition through zoning.
They argue that zoning could restrict voter choice and weaken the party’s national presence, especially in regions where ODM has historically sought to expand its support base.
ODM’s official position remains unclear, with no confirmed resolution from its National Executive Committee, reflecting divisions within the party over the matter.
At the same time, party leader Oburu Odinga has been linked to broader cooperation efforts, with some allies suggesting that zoning could help streamline campaign strategies, although this view has not been widely accepted within the party.
Youth leaders and aspiring candidates have also pushed back against the proposal, describing it as limiting and not reflective of grassroots political aspirations, further highlighting the tension between party leadership and upcoming political actors.
Kaluma maintained that zoning is not unique to Kenya, arguing that similar patterns exist in other political systems where parties focus on regions where they enjoy strong support.
“When you go to the United States, you have Red states, Blue states and Swing states,” he said, adding that comparable dynamics can be seen in parts of Europe and other established democracies.
He noted that in Kenya, coalition partners often align their efforts with regions where they have established political influence, citing past arrangements involving parties such as Wiper and Jubilee, where certain areas were largely left to specific partners.
“When you go to somewhere like Lower Eastern where Wiper is strong, we leave it to Wiper,” he said, adding that ODM has traditionally been dominant in areas such as Nyanza, Western, Coast and parts of North Eastern.
The MP stressed that winning the presidency alone is not enough without securing a strong presence in Parliament, saying legislative numbers play a key role in shaping governance.
“You cannot run the government without winning the majority in the other seats, especially in Parliament,” he said.
He warned that a weak parliamentary presence could limit a government’s ability to pass key decisions, including approval of appointments and policies, and could also expose it to checks such as impeachment and budget rejection.
“If you play around, they will not approve anything, meaning they will be dictating to you(the President) who your cabinet is,” he said.
He further argued that allowing multiple candidates from the same coalition to contest the same seat could split votes and create an opening for rival candidates to win.
“We avoid a situation where members of a single coalition field candidates, they would share the votes and create a pathway for a possible opposition candidate to win,” he said.
On internal debates within ODM, Kaluma dismissed calls by some leaders who have suggested abandoning zoning or aligning fully with President William Ruto, saying such positions reflect differing interpretations of the party’s direction.
“I think they are not understanding it well,” he said.
He added that maintaining a strong number of elected representatives remains key for ODM’s influence in any coalition, noting that numerical strength determines negotiating power.
“If you are few MPs, how will you enforce the deal?” he asked.
Kaluma also acknowledged challenges facing ODM, including the absence of long-time party leader Raila Odinga as a unifying figure, saying the party is currently navigating a transition period without his direct leadership.
“We are in a situation where we lack the personification of those ideals in an individual,” he said.
He further pointed to financial constraints, stating that party funding amounting to Sh12 billion has not been disbursed as expected, which he suggested has affected party operations.
Despite these challenges, he maintained that ODM remains rooted in its founding principles, including devolution, human rights, and advocacy for marginalized communities.
“We are a party of devolution, a party of human rights, a party fighting for the marginalized,” he said.
On emerging political formations such as Linda Mwananchi linked to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other independent groupings, Kaluma downplayed their potential influence, saying they lack the resources and political reach to make a major impact.
“I don’t think they will impact much, they don’t have the gravitas and the resources,” he said.
As discussions on zoning continue, the debate highlights deeper divisions within ODM and broader coalition politics, raising questions about strategy, internal democracy, and how parties plan to position themselves ahead of the next general election.