By Billy Mijungu
I take great exception to the desperate rush into zoning by political parties. Zoning is being championed as a shortcut to political survival, yet it undermines the true test of democratic competition. How will a party ever know its strength if it cuts deals too early, surrendering space before facing the people?
Zoning is often presented as a strategy of convenience, a way to prevent vote splitting, to secure turf, or to protect allies. But at its heart, it is an admission of weakness, a fear of testing the will of voters. It amounts to stitching up the future of constituencies in smoke filled rooms without consulting the very people whose voices matter most.
Still, some argue that zoning may be the glue that keeps opposition forces together. By allowing different leaders to control their perceived strongholds, political parties can avoid premature internal fights. Politics, after all, is local, and ignoring the influence of homegrown power brokers can be politically suicidal. The local truth often dictates the national outcome.
Yet this is where the contradiction lies. The Political Parties Act was crafted with the vision of national political units, not ethnic fiefdoms or regional silos. A party that survives only by cutting zoning deals weakens its national character. It limits itself to being a coalition of convenience rather than a broad movement capable of governing inclusively. National balance, cohesion, and unity cannot be built on zoning. They must be grounded in a genuine national appeal that transcends tribe and region.
The danger is clear. Zoning risks turning back the democratic clock. Instead of fostering parties that speak to the whole country, we create fragile alliances tied together by temporary interests. When the glue wears off, the cracks widen, and instability follows.
This is why the 24 by elections scheduled for November 27th, 2027, are such a critical moment. They will not just test the popularity of individual candidates but will also expose the strength and staying power of the parties that sponsor them. Every by election will serve as a mirror, reflecting whether parties have truly built trust with voters or whether they are simply hiding behind zoning pacts.
These will be some of the hardest fought by elections in our nation’s history. Stakes are higher than ever. Reputations, future candidacies, and even the survival of some parties will hinge on the outcomes. No one can afford to play safe. Every party and every candidate must throw everything into the contest.
It is in the spirit of competition that true democracy thrives. Let the voters, not party chiefs or secret pacts, decide. For only then can we know who truly commands the confidence of the people. The politics of zoning may appear to offer temporary safety, but in truth, it is a stumbling block on the path to genuine democracy. The deeper question for 2027 is whether our political class will choose courage over convenience.
The nation is watching, and the people will remember.
