At 55 years, little-known political novice Cornel Rasanga took a risky step to join politics.
Siaya County is Nyanza's political boiler room with many seasoned politicians tracing their roots there including ODM leader Raila Odinga and veteran lawyer James Orengo. For the son of a Chief (Rasanga), it was not going to be rossy for him.
His decision to contest the governorship also made him a little overambitious.
Luck, however, fell on Rasanga after the two leading contestants were disqualified from the party primaries by the Orange Democratic Movement.
After Oburu Odinga and William Oduol were disqualified from the race, Rasanga who had come third during the ODM nominations was handed the party ticket, marking the begging of his political career.
He trounced Oduol, a Nairobi businessman who contested as an independent candidate in the March 2013 election.
However, his win was nullified months later after Oduol's successful petition. He, however, recaptured his seat after a fierce by-election.
Riding on his newfound political clout, the University of Nairobi-trained economist and lawyer was a favorite to win the August 2017 poll.
During the 2017 general election,he defeated his main rival former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo.
Rasanga is currently serving his last term.