Elgeyo-Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen had his political career saved by ODM leader Raila Odinga when he was making entry into politics.
Being a close friend of Raila, Murkomen had contemplated running for the seat on an ODM party in 2013.
But Raila, while addressing mourners in the North Rift county on Saturday, said he advised Murkomen to run on a URP ticket.
"Murkomen is my student and I don't have issues with himhim," recalled the veteran leader.
He added: " I advised him to contest on URP which was popular here by then instead of ODM. I am glad that he won."
At that time, a host of Rift Valley politicians led by DP William Ruto had ditched ODM for the defunct URP.
During the funeral, Murkomen urged the government to set offices for Raila and enumerate him well to continue rendering his services to the country.