Homa Bay town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma has defended the decision by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leaders to push for zoning as a non-negotiable condition ahead of the pre-coalition talks with United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
This comes amid rising political tension between the ODM and the UDA, following divergent views over the infiltration of a party’s stronghold by coalition partners.
In a statement issued on Monday, April 6, 2026, Peter Kaluma maintained that all political parties have their distinct strongholds and support bases in mature democracies, arguing that it is inappropriate for one party to encroach on another’s territory.
“All political parties have their strongholds and bases in mature democracies. In the United States, we have Red States and Blue States with a few swing states. So is the case with Europe where we’ve distinct Labour and Conservative Party strongholds,” Kaluma said.
He cited past general elections in 2013, 2017, and 2022, noting that ODM has previously formed alliances with parties such as FORD-Kenya and Wiper under coalitions including Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), National Super Alliance (NASA), and Azimio la Umoja.
Kaluma stated that in each of these arrangements, member parties maintained distinct regions of political influence, a principle he says should continue to guide current and future coalition agreements.
“Coalitions need to win majority seats in leadership to effectively run government just as individual Political parties also have interests to safeguard before and after elections. This is the reason as to why Coalitions normally field only one candidate, usually from the most influential political party, in each electoral unit,” he stated.
The Homa Bay town MP further clarified that the Orange Party will only engage in coalition discussions with parties that respect ODM’s political strongholds.
“The ODM Party will only enter into pre-election coalition with parties that recognize its strongholds and respects the democratic need to have the party remain strong before and after elections,” he reiterated.
“Our coalition partner(s) have to keep off our strongholds before and after elections. This is non-negotiable,” he added.
He warned that moves by the UDA Party to field candidates in every part of the country including ODM zones risks the party loosing its strength.
