Eight years ago, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba swore the oath of allegiance to Raila Odinga as parliament sat for the swearing in ceremony of all MPs.
At the time, Ababu said he knew no other president and insisted on swearing an oath to Raila whom after the disputed 2007 election, had to form a coalition government with Mwai Kibaki.
After promising a showdown like no other, the first parliamentary session after the 2007 elections lacked any knock-down brawls but tension and drama persisted. Ababu's was the most played out.
"I swear my allegiance to the president," said Ababu Namwamba, as he nodded his head to Odinga.
In the more than 10-hour session where Kibaki and Raila came face to face for the first time since the post-election violence that left more than 600 people dead and at least 250,000 Kenyans displaced, Raila refused to take the oath mentioning the president. He omitted the word ‘president’ from "the president and the republic of Kenya."
Members of his party, Ababu included, took the opportunity to call Kibaki a thief and a "fraudster" during their swearing-in.
Najib Balala, who was one of Raila's deputies then opened the session by walking into parliament and announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the president," introducing Raila to a thunderous applause from his party, which made up nearly half of the parliament.
A few minutes later, Kibaki was introduced by the National Assembly clerk.
Fast forward to today and Ababu, with most of his ilk, are singing a whole new tune. Balala is in government having left Raila before the 2013 elections. Ababu has often cited Raila not listening to MPs from Western Kenya. This was the reason for his resignation and Paul Otuoma's. With Raila yet to speak on this issue, Kenyans will have to wait longer and keep guessing what caused the fallout.
Ababu has severally dismissed claims that he is on a covert mission for Jubilee Party but his resignation as ODM SG has led many to think that he has one of foot outside the party that took him to parliament.
He welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta to Western Kenya when he toured the region, and was a part of the leaders who discussed the bailout of Mumias Sugar Factory. He told a local radio station then that the bailout deal was done out of respect and development and not politics as many thought.
Then, he reiterated that his allegiance to Raila and ODM was unquestionable.
“You know I am Generali Ababu Namwamba and I promise to lead the one remaining bullet movement brigade front ahead of the 2017 general election.”
With Raila already on the offensive, Namwamba is still playing his cards close to his chest and it is only a matter of time before Kenyans can tell where he stands as far as his allegiance to Raila and ODM is concerned.
One thing that is sure though is that he no longer is a faithful bride to Raila and if his turnaround materialises, then it makes truer the saying that politics has no permanent friends or foes.