Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o has dismissed claims that he's a sycophant to ODM leader Raila Odinga, whom he has been working together with for several years.
Mr Odinga and Nyong'o were first elected to parliament in 1992 with the former representing Lang'ata and the latter for Kisumu Rural constituency.
After differences in Ford Kenya, the two walked separate ways in 1997, with Raila forming NDP while Nyong'o shifting to Charity Ngilu led SDP.
But in 2002, the two pluralism fighters joined hands in Liberal Democratic Party, forming the Narc government which defeated KANU the same year.
In an interview with NTV on Monday, Nyong'o dismissed claims that he's a Raila Odinga sycophant, arguing that they only share similar vision.
"By the way, calling me Raila's sycophant is wrong. We are comrades in struggle. He has emerged as our leader and proved that he leads our party well.
"If people support someone it's not about sycophancy. I was responding to Muga. He thinks that Raila listens to sycophants only. I had to put records straight," he said.
Prof Nyong'o has been an instrumental figure in Raila Odinga's ODM party, working as Secretary General since 2006 to 2013.
In Luo Nyanza Counties, he's the only person who won polls as a first term governor will three others retaining their seats. He beat Governor Jackson Ranguma.
The Prof of political science is well known for his literary criticism on KANU government and subsequent detentions just like Mr Odinga in 1980s.