With their political careers left hanging on the balance following their dismal performance in the 2017 election, a good number of Nyanza politicians were left in the cold. However, President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent decision to give them state jobs is going to change the region's political dimension come 2022.
Youthful Agostino Neto bounced back with a NEMA job, a move that in itself will give the former Ndhiwa MP an edge come the next political contest.
With the former lawmaker's future game plan still in the wraps, there is no doubt that the position will give him a good footing in case he decides to face the incumbent, Martin Owino, a key ally of NASA leader Raila Odinga.
Then there is former Uriri MP Owuor Kobado who also bounced back with a government appointment. The former lawmaker who lost his seat to Mark Nyamita could be plotting to make a comeback in 2022 and the new job will keep him politically relevant until the next poll.
After spending the last 10 years in the cold, former Migori MP Owino Likowa also made it to Uhuru Kenyatta's list of recent appointees. For a man who has struggled politically, could the new job be enough to make him reinvent his stalled political career?
Former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo who was voted out in 2013 could also give a spirited fight in 2022 and make a much-needed comeback outside Raila's ODM party.
Will Uhuru's appointments haunt Raila's ODM game plan? Only time will tell.