While their relationship in public may not be questionable, ODM leader Raila Odinga is said to have dropped Siaya senator James Orengo from his kitchen cabinet.
For a decade now, Orengo, a political foe cum ally, has played part part in Raila's revolutionary politics that has shaken the establishment since 2007.
Multiple sources with Orange House intimate that Raila no longer reaches out to Orengo when making important political decisions.
Instead, Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and lawyer Paul Mwangi have assumed all important roles in Raila's new path after the famous handshake.
"The main challenge is, Orengo never at any time thought of Raila working with Uhuru Kenyatta. This partly made Raila to be cautious about him," said a source who spoke in confidence.
Another source, who handles legal issues within the Orange party, said Raila was unhappy with Orengo after the infamous coup in the senate that saw Moses Wetangula punished.
"The boss was not happy on Wetangula's ouster and he openly blamed Orengo. Hours before the ouster, he had summoned senators but Orengo incited them. He seems not to have forgiven him," he said.
During Raila's meeting with Uhuru at Harambee House, only Junet, Mwangi and Winnie Odinga attended, raising questions about Orengo's absence.
Subsequently, Orengo, a man who brokered the deal between Raila and Mwai kibaki in 2008, was also missing on Friday when the duo met in Muthaiga for unity talks.
Apparently, Nyong'o seems to have assumed full time advisory role in Raila's future plans. Besides being present in Friday's meeting, the Kisumu governor was part of Uhuru's recent delegation to Cuba.
insiders say that the Senate Minority Leader is working behind the curtains to succeed Raila as Luo kingpin should the former Prime Minister exit the stage in 2022.