Prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has sparked debate after proposing a zoning approach to Kenyan politics, arguing that regional political dominance by local parties is key to maximising President William Ruto’s support.
In remarks posted on X, Ahmednasir said Kenya’s political landscape remains deeply shaped by ethnic and regional affiliations, making the idea of fully national parties unrealistic.
“To maximise presidential vote… we must allow local parties to dominate their local areas of influence… zoning is a must,” he said.
He argued that different regions should be left to parties with established local support, suggesting that the United Democratic Alliance should dominate in the Rift Valley, while the Orange Democratic Movement retains influence in Nyanza and the Coast.
He also cited other parties such as the United Democratic Movement, associated with Mandera Senator Ali Roba, and FORD–Kenya in parts of Western Kenya, as examples of regionally dominant outfits that should not be displaced.
According to Ahmednasir, attempts to expand UDA into regions traditionally aligned with other parties could trigger political instability and defections.
“If any attempt is made to force UDA into areas dominated by other parties… politicians will relocate and defect for good, with their kinsmen in tow,” he warned.
His comments come amid ongoing political realignments and efforts by the ruling party to expand its national footprint ahead of the 2027 general election.
The remarks are likely to generate mixed reactions, particularly among proponents of national cohesion who advocate for issue-based politics over ethnic or regional alignments.
Neither the ruling party nor opposition leaders had immediately responded to the statement at the time of publication.
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