It is exactly six years since former Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode died in a plane crash, cutting short the life of a firebrand politician who had reigned politically in Nyanza for 18 years.
At the time of his death, Ojode was one of the most trusted allies of the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Though he was not a full minister, Ojode was probably the most powerful Assistant Minister in the grand coalition government.
However, their long political and personal relationship not withstanding, Ojode had protested the decision by Raila not to make him a full minister when the "nusu mkate" government was formed and a fallout between the two was looming.
By then, 'Sirkal' as Ojode was popularly known, was the senior most politician in South Nyanza having been in Parliament for 13 good years. However, Raila settled on Otieno Kajwang, Ojode's political junior and Dalmas Otieno as Ministers.
The bitter Ojode had threatened to call a press conference after President Mwai Kibaki had announced the new cabinet with his name conspicuously missing. It took the intervention of Luo elders to convince the fuming MP to take up the assistant minister position he had been given to avoid embarrassing the Prime Minister.
During the MP's requiem mass, Raila recalled how Ojode was disappointed after missing the full minister slot.
"When the Grand Coalition came to Power, Ojode was not happy that I had not given him the flag. He complained to me and I explained," Raila told the mourners.
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