Since she came into the political limelight in 2013, acting ODM Secretary General Dr Agnes Zani has not only won the hearts of many Kenyans both from the government and opposition but also proved herself to be a force to reckon with.
Born 50 years ago, the nominated senator has lived her life advocating for equality in society where she grew to the extent that she took a voluntary role to educate her Digo community why they should vote at a time when Kwale region was threatening not to vote in the 2013 election over 'Pwani si Kenya' reason.
Since her childhood, the Oxford University graduate says any injustice made to anybody made her uncomfortable.
An accomplished scholar and a champion for the rights of the marginalized, Ms Zani is an embodiment of a modern day female politician.
Born to an educationist father in Kwale, Zani attended Star of the Sea Primary School in Mombasa and Secondary School till form 4 where she later joined Moi Girls High School in Nairobi after her father who was a commissioner with TSC was transferred.
She would later enroll for a BA in Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Nairobi in 1987 before specializing in Sociology where she graduated in 1990.
Upon graduation, she immediately enrolled for a Masters degree in the same institution until 1993 when she was appointed a lecturer in the same institution.
She held the job until 2004 when she got a scholarship that saw her enroll for her PhD at the prestigious Oxford University in the United Kingdom where she graduated in 2008.
Upon graduation, she went back for her classroom job at the University of Nairobi.
Her political interest grew when she continued to come to face with the plight of her people and in 2013, her political dream got a face-lift when she was nominated as Senator by the ODM party.
She has spoken 373 times in the Senate with her peak time being June 2015 where she spoke 59 times.
She also has a Bill to her name, something that shows her importance to the Senate.
Since then, the admirable character who has a green belt in Karate has not looked back.
Her declaration that she would vie for the ODM Secretary General position in 2014 received a cold reception from within the party with some saying she is a political greenhorn who cannot steer the party to the next level.
Underrated by her opponents, derided and belittled with negative remarks as 'an unknown woman from the Coast', Dr Zani was not moved.
When the party elections were bungled, she settled for deputy Secretary General position after the party resolved to settle the leadership uncertainty that was bedeviling it.
Her dream to lead the party's secretariat came true in 2016 July when she was appointed the acting Secretary General after the resignation of Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba.
The former Research Director with the defunct Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) has now set her eyes high as she is eyeing the Kwale County Senatorial seat in 2017.
However, she will have to play safe with the peer jealousy and machinations of Mombasa-based power brokers who are still dumbfounded with her meteorite political rise.
In Zani, ODM have a new 'man' in the fold.