Senate Speaker Amason Kingi speaking at Sabaki area in Magarini where they drummed up support for ODM's Gideon Mung'aro. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has announced plans to implement a political zoning arrangement in Kilifi County by supporting and campaigning for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidates in elective seats currently held by the party in the 2027 General Election.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the arrangement was part of the broad-based government political understanding between President William Ruto's UDA and ODM.
Speaking during a meeting with UDA delegates from Magarini Sub-County at Sabaki, Kingi said UDA would not field candidates against ODM leaders occupying elective positions in Kilifi County.
“The UDA party will support and campaign for the ODM Governor candidate in Kilifi County, and that one should be very clear,” Kingi said.
He urged UDA supporters to embrace the political arrangement, saying supporters of President Ruto should remain committed to the coalition's strategy as the country heads towards the 2027 elections.
“You can't be a UDA supporter and a supporter of President Ruto and chant ‘wantam’ slogans, while we are supporting ODM because they are singing ‘tutam’ for Ruto,” he said.
Kingi, who was accompanied by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu and several political aspirants, said the Coast region would mobilise more votes for President Ruto's re-election.
He expressed confidence that the Kenya Kwanza alliance would reach a target of four million votes by December this year.
“We are re-electing Ruto not just because we love him, but because Ruto loves us, and that is why we are shouting ‘tutam’,” Kingi said.
Baya said the Coast region would not return to opposition politics, warning that leaders seeking to mobilise residents against the government would face defeat.
“Since Kenya became a republic, it is only President William Ruto who has cared for us through development and appointments. In 2022, we only gave him 74,000 votes out of more than 350,000 votes. Let us vote for him so that we can benefit more,” Baya said.
His sentiments were echoed by Kazungu and Kilifi Woman Representative aspirant Fatuma Ramadhan, who said residents had witnessed the government's development projects in the region and should support President Ruto's administration.
“We have seen Ruto come here to launch projects, and we cannot leave him and go looking for a government elsewhere. We will defeat those who are fighting him,” Fatuma said.
The declaration signals a major political realignment in Kilifi County ahead of the 2027 General Election, with UDA and ODM expected to coordinate their campaigns under the broad-based government arrangement.
