Before taking over over as President in 1963, Jomo Kenyatta had already made up his mind that he wanted Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as his Vice President.
Also his deputy as the KANU president, Kenyatta even tagged Oginga along during the pre-indedendence Lancaster Conferences in 1962 and 1963, which also included other leaders.
While the two were supposed to be sited side by side during the conferences, some photos show Oginga sited behind Kenyatta, with Kenyatta's lawyer Fitz Desouza taking his position.
In his book "Forward to Freedom", Fitz says that it was a plot hatched between the three of them to lock out Tom Mboya, for fear that he would steal the show and possibly the leadership.
He says that thanks to Mboya's oratory skills and him being a threat to Kenyatta, it was agreed that he (Fitz) sits next to the president to answer any questions posed and keep Mboya silent.
"At Lancaster House, knowing Tom’s gift for oratory, he urged me not to let him take the stage but to answer every question myself and not worry that people might think I was talking too much," he writes.
The lawyer of Goan roots adds that Oginga agreed to move behind and would only stick his head out beside Kenyatta for photos, some of which, however, captured him at the back.
"Odinga though seemed unconcerned and told me not to worry: ‘Fitz, I know you’re a good man and you’re not going to take my job. I’ll sit behind you, and if there’s a photo opportunity I’ll just put my head out in front," he writes.
Consequently, says Fitz, he spoke more than anyone else during the functions.