‘Zoning’ of strongholds leaves Cord, Jubilee alliances sharply divided

By Stephen Makabila

Whereas coalition partners are avoiding the word ‘zoning’ as they plan to hold nominations, it is emerging most of them will have exclusive rights to field candidates in their strongholds.

It has emerged that on the January 17 when Cord, Jubilee and Amani coalitions will all conduct their primaries, some political parties will have the latitude of fielding candidates in their perceived strongholds without competition from affiliate members.

However, political observers say culture of political zoning, under whichever name, violates democratic principles.

“Zoning is one way of being assertive or protective of one’s turf, but its undemocratic and a confirmation of weakness. In a democracy, competition should be open for the strongest candidate to win,” said Munene Macharia of the United States International University.

Chairman of the Centre for Multiple Democracy Justin Muturi, who is a member of TNA, says the Jubilee coalition had approved political zoning of regions.

“It’s not healthy for democracy but the Jubilee agreement, which I have, approved political zoning,” Muturi, who is running for the Mbere North seat told The Standard On Sunday. Under the agreement, Eldoret North William Ruto’s URP will have a field day mainly in parts of Rift Valley while TNA will enjoy the same in Mt Kenya region. “As things stand now, TNA may be allowed to field candidates in a place like Marakwet East where area MP Linah Kilimo is running in TNA, while URP may field in one constituency in Central,” added Muturi.

Muturi further said TNA dominates Nairobi and will have the leverage of fielding candidates in most of the 17 constituencies in the city. URP reportedly will field in three city constituencies, according to the pre-election agreement deposited at the Registrar of Political Parties.

Among parties to enjoy exclusive rights in their perceived strongholds is Amani coalition’s New Ford-Kenya. UDF and Kanu, which are members of the Amani coalition, are reportedly not fielding candidates in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, which are perceived to be strongholds of New Ford-Kenya.

Allowing New Ford-Kenya to have a free hand in the two counties is believed to have been one of the conditions Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa gave UDF’s Musalia Mudavadi before sacrificing his presidential ambition to back the Sabatia MP.

The Amani Coalition has said its affiliates will hold separate nominations in a bid to avert falling outs and ensure the alliance remains united. The nominations will be held on January 17 the same day other leading coalitions will conduct theirs.

In the CORD coalition, some areas could also be zoned in the name of “leaving it out for strong candidates”.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is Raila Odinga’s presidential running mate in CORD has even cautioned it would be suicidal for CORD affiliates to field separate candidates in Western Province as it would give Mudavadi’s UDF an upper hand.

To effectively counter Mudavadi in Western, the CORD plans to compel candidates from affiliate parties to step down for those perceived to be stronger. Kalonzo is reported to have told a meeting of CORD MPs at Nairobi Club on Tuesday that those who will step down will benefit from appointments if the coalition forms that next government and that CORD was also ready to reimburse aspirants who will step down money spent in the campaigns.

Cord, which had originally planned to hold joint nominations, beat a hasty retreat earlier in the week, preferring to only hold joint nominations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and some areas not perceived to be its strongholds. Before the hasty retreat, Ford-Kenya, which is one of its key affiliates, had maintained it would hold its own nominations. Earlier, Kalembe Ndile of TIP led a host of other parties allied to Kalonzo’s Wiper Democratic Movement to oppose joint nominations.

In the Jubilee coalition, the debate on political zoning has been raging since it was adopted by URP and TNA in their pre-election agreement.

Dujis MP Aden Duale has been on record as arguing URP was popular in Upper Eastern, North Eastern, Coast and Rift Valley regions compared to their coalition partners.