[ODM leader Raila Odinga in a past event. Mr. James Orengo, the Siaya senator has been key in his political decision making. Photo/Nation]
Having stayed in politics over three decades, naming of Raila Odinga, a son of first Vice President Oginga Odinga, was not a major surprise given his experience in the political spectrum.
With four candidates to choose from, all NASA leaders led by Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi were therefore hopeful.
Despite having chosen a technical committee and a coordinating committee to help them choose one among them, the process wasn’t easy given that the four principals had equal chances.
But Odinga’s confident James Orengo, who featured prominently during Thursday’s Uhuru Park rally, was the architect behind the delicate process that at some point almost saw opposition team disintegrating before the material day.
“Orengo has guided us well and his vast knowledge in matters governance has really helped us,” admitted Senator Bonnie Khalwale.
Days to ODM’S nominations in Siaya, Mr. Orengo, a key advisor of Odinga was nowhere to be seen in campaign trails despite having interest in Siaya senatorial seat.
Surprisingly, his one day stop over across the county tilted votes in his favour and emerged winner after scooping 140,000 votes with his closest challenger Argwings Kodhek emerging a distant second with 9,000.
Orengo, a former University of Nairobi student leader and a legal mogul, has spent most of his life in streets fighting for freedom and has had a better taste of jail or exile.
Despite having hot and cold relationship with Odinga in the past, the duo have related well in recent years with Odinga rarely making decision without involving him.