That Raila Odinga and the sports CS Rashid Echesa are not bed-fellows is as open as a gaping hole. Raila Odinga has been keen to maintain the cobra-grip influence he has enjoyed in Western Kenya for long.
However, recent events point to a love lost between Western Kenya and Raila Amolo Odinga, particularly after the famous handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The removal of Wetangula as a Minority Leader in the Senate has served to rub salt into the sore wound. Raila Odinga has precipitated the war with his alleged fighting of leaders from Western Kenya who are perceived to be DP Ruto allies.
That is where Rashid Echesa comes in. He has distinguished himself as a Raila critic and has even vowed publicly that he will not call him baba for his baba lieth peacefully in the world yonder.
Rashid Echesa has pointed to Raila that he can as well go ahead and sack him if he is the appointing authority.
It is yet to be seen what this new cold relationship between Western Kenya leaders and the man they call baba will mean for the political arithmetic of 2022.
William Ruto is so keen to harvest from the populous region and has on several occasions made his popular 'tangatanga' trips to the region. Ruto knows that if he secures Western votes, he is definitely headed to the house on the hills.
Trust the hustler, he is ready to pounce on any political fallout between Western and his political foe, Raila Amolo Odinga.