In 2007, then in his mid-30s, little-known John Mbadi was elected Gwasi MP after defeating the incumbent Zadock Syongoh, a veteran in the constituency politics.
However, it never took long before Mbadi established himself among the top, eloquent debators in Parliament, and from there, his political career has never been the same again.
Throughout his first term in Parliament, the University of Nairobi-trained finance expert emerged as the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga staunch defender and the firebrand young politician was always ready to defend his party boss from any attack he deemed unnecessary.
It was early 2012 that proved to be Mbadi's first political break; his loyalty to the Prime Minister was rewarded as Raila overlooked all his (Mbadi's) political seniors to appoint him as an assistant minister.
After the chaotic ODM elections in 2014, then came Mbadi's second break. The party leadership settled on him to succeed long-serving chairman Henry Kosgey. Leading the country's largest party at the time was a dream come true for the man who came from nowhere.
After the 2017 elections, Mbadi who faced a scare in his re-election bid, was handed the crucial Minority Leader in the National Assembly by his NASA coalition. For him, the mission which looked impossible 10 years ago has now been fulfilled.
With Raila's full trust, Mbadi has grown to be a political monster and with attention now shifting to 2022, will the 46-year old go for an even bigger seat? If he does, he will surely win it.