The recent appointment of ODM leader Raila Odinga as African Union Special Envoy on Infrastructure Development in the continent will no doubt have side effects on the former premier's future political career.
When Raila is Raila, he is literally unbeatable in the local political arena where he announced his arrival over decades ago. But then questions are bound to arise. How will he balance politics and the continental assignment? Well, a decision will have to be made.
Raila will have to turn to Joho, his loyal deputy on the party leadership to do all the political groundwork ahead of the 2022 political contest where the former Premier's role remains a closely guarded secret.
As a good student of Raila in politics, Joho will prove to be his big political asset especially in his bid to lock out the ambitious Deputy President William Ruto who is on a charm offensive to raid Raila's strongholds to springboard his political ambitions.
With Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi 'gone', Joho who is widely seen by many as the region's political kingpin, will have to to fill Raila's big political shoes and if possible repel the ODM 'splinter group' from Coast that is led by Kingi before it can cause political damage.