NASA leader Raila Odinga flanked by lawyers Miguna Miguna, TJ Kajwang and James Orengo during the swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park. [Photo/ nairobinews.nation.co.ke]
It is evident that the families of Kenya's first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and David Ajwang enjoy close ties.The relationship between the two families dates back to the 1970s. With Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang taking part in NASA leader Raila Odinga’s swearing-in as people's president on Tuesday, their relationship will only hit a new high.In the late 1970s, David Ajwang's son, Otieno Kajwang was expelled from the University of Nairobi. By then, Jaramogi was Kenya's opposition figurehead and he had to act to save the young Otieno Kajwang. He took a personal initiative to ensure that Kajwang got admitted to Makerere University to complete his Bachelor of Laws Degree. In 1997, Jaramogi’s son Raila Odinga who was the then MP for Langata introduced Otieno Kajwang into politics. In his first stab in the game of politics, he clinched the Mbita MP seat on Raila's NDP party.Until his sudden death, Otieno Kajwang was one of Raila's political rocks and trusted allies.In the subsequent by-election for Homa Bay Senator, Raila's ODM party settled on the relatively young and inexperienced Moses Kajwang to inherit his brother's seat, just to underscore the two families' closeness. He won by a landslide.And in Nairobi, there is another Kajwang; Tom Joseph Francis Kajwang- the man who would play a leading role in a new chapter of Raila's political life. Against everyone's expectations, the Ruaraka MP played a role in administering the oath to Raila during the swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park on Tuesday, January 30.This is despite the government warning that the swearing-in amounted to treason. Kajwang was arrested on Wednesday and later released on a Sh50, 000 cash bail after being charged with administering an illegal oath.With a lot more to come in future, the relationship between the two families is only growing stronger.