Appointment of Raila Odinga as Head of Infrastructure Development brought about mixed reactions last year with his critics viewing it as a major plot by President Uhuru Kenyatta to silence him politically.
But the recent 32nd Assembly of African Heads of State and Governments at Ethiopia may have after all painted a clear picture of Mr Odinga's immense influence and power among Africa leaders.
Prof Peter Kagwanja says Mr Odinga's treatment in Ethiopia brought honour and respect not only to Mr Odinga but also Kenya at large.
The apparent VVIP treatment of Mr Odinga, almost to the level of a head of state, reflects his status as a pan-Africanist.
"Over the years, Mr Odinga has consolidated his clout as a nationalist, a prominent opposition leader emulated across Africa,” Prof Peter Kagwanja, the chief executive of the Africa Policy Institute, explains.
Within the assembly, Mr Odinga would be seen mingling freely at VVIP area with African presidents, a rare privilege to people who not served as presidents or head of governments.
At some point, Raila is seen exchanging notes with President Uhuru Kenyatta before moving to the official seat of Republic of South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa, his longtime business partner.
Mr Odinga's spokesman Dennis Onyango links his boss's change of fortunes to his Pan Africanist attitude and the handshake between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta which brought about stability in Kenya.
“I do not think it is just about Raila. There is a Kenyan factor to this growing respect and influence, and in fact some call it Uhuru-Raila factor in Africa, which has gotten stronger with time, thanks to the handshake," he says.