Raila Odinga stamped his authority on Nyanza politics after a hard-fought victory in the Migori senatorial race, which ODM candidate Ochillo Ayacko won narrowly following a stiff challenge from youthful Eddy Oketch.
Initially seen as a walkover for the former cabinet minister, ODM has to up its game with the party's heavyweights pitching tent in the cosmopolitan county- the bedrock of Raila's political life.
As ODM's deputy party leader, Joho stepped in in a bid to save his party boss from facing humiliation in his own political turf, especially from a political novice.
He electrified Migori during campaigns and being a natural crowd puller, the tide was turned against the aggressive 27-year-old Oketch, who was widely seen by ODM as a 'project' of Deputy President William Ruto.
While warning Ruto to be prepared for a major political showdown come to the next general election, Joho said that the DP was not Raila's political equal even as the Migori senatorial race was presented to be a 'war' between Raila and Ruto.
"We telling the DP to respect Mr. Odinga. How can he dare call Mr. Odinga a conman? We are going to teach him a lesson of his life. Let him continue roaming the country but when time will come, he will see dust," said Mr Joho during campaigns.
In short, Joho stole the show in Migori. May be had he not been there, Raila would have been humiliated. And as 2022 approaches, the Mombasa Governor has confirmed his political might.