Throughout the 23 years he was a Member of Parliament, former Bondo MP Oburu Oginga has operated in the shadows of his younger but ambitious and influential brother Raila Odinga. However, his impact in the latter's political life has not gone unnoticed.
The two children of Kenya's first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga are the most senior politicians in Nyanza today with the former Prime Minister being probably the most successful. But behind his success lies a silent but a powerful man, Dr. Oburu Oginga, the Russia-trained Economist.
Taking over Jaramogi's seat as the head of the family, the 75-year became the father figure to his young siblings including Raila.
Besides that family life, it is understood that the EALA MP is one of the former Premier's trusted political advisors.
After the controversial 2007 presidential election, when the Coalition government was formed and Raila, the Prime Minister settled on his brother as Assistant Minister in the crucial Finance Ministry. His boss was Raila's bitter rival Uhuru Kenyatta. Their long family political rivalry notwithstanding, Uhuru and Dr. Oburu forged a good working relationship.
During the 2017 election, Dr. Oburu was one of Raila's key campaigners in his Nyanza political turf.
With Raila entering into a peace deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Dr. Oburu would two weeks later meet the Head of State, probably to rubber stamp the truce.
And on Friday, as Uhuru led the country in celebrating Madaraka Day at Kinoru Stadium in Meru, Raila and Dr Oburu attended the fete perhaps to confirm their resolve to bury the hatchet after the divisive past.
The duo would later fly to Mombasa for Iftar.