They are peers and Nyanza's political giants whose long history dates back to the 1980s during the clamour for multi-party democracy. But NASA leader Raila Odinga's political life with that of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o has not just been a bed of rosses as they once crossed paths.
When the first multi-party elections were held in 1992, Raila and Nyong'o both contested for political seats and both were elected. Raila was elected in Lang'ata and Prof. Nyong'o in Kisumu Rural constituency. The "young turks" were the new sheriffs in town.
However, immediately after the death of Ford Kenya leader and Raila's father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, things started falling apart. The party succession politics pitting Raila and Jaramogi's heir apparent Wamalwa Kijana nearly destroyed the party. And to forestall full-blown chaos, Raila resigned as MP after quitting the party.
He, however, returned to Parliament on an NDP party ticket during a by-election. And with time, NDP was the new political juggernaut in Nyanza and Nyong'o's political career was at right after he crossed over to SDP from Ford Kenya.
During the 1997 election, Prof. Nyong'o was swept by the NDP tsunami. His political future was hanging on balance but his party nominated him to Parliament until 2002 when he recaptured the seat after teaming up with Raila and others to form NARC which ended KANU's 40-year rule.
Since then, Nyong'o and Raila have reading from the same political age and the Makerere University-trained political scientist has been key in the former Prime Minister's political journey.
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