June 10, 2012, ODM leader Raila Odinga was dealt a major political blow following the demise of his longtime political ally and bedrock Ndhiwa MP Joshua Ojode in a helicopter crash that also claimed the life of his boss George Saitoti.
Until his death, Ojode who was seen by many as a shrewd political operator, had won Raila's trust and was the former Prime Minister's key political lieutenant.
But how did he rise to become literally unbeatable in politics? Well, Ojode rose from a nondescript political background in 1994 to successfully contest the Ndhiwa MP in a by-election after the holder of the seat Tom Obondo defected to KANU.
Even though no one gave him a chance against well-oiled politicians, he chose to make a try. And from there, Ojode never looked back.
Ojode would later forge a close relationship with Raila for the rest of his political career. And to survive politically for the next 18 years, the Ndhiwa MP became a shrewd operator maintaining a hawkish stand within all the parties they joined.
At a time of his death, besides James Orengo, Anyang Nyong'o and Otieno Kajwang, Ojode was Raila's most trusted politician.
What if he was still alive? There is no doubt that he would have been Homa Bay's political kingpin following the death of Otieno Kajwang. Besides that, the likes of Agostino Neto Oyugi, the man who inherited his seat, would have continued to operate under his shadows. And who knows, may be he would have been Homa Bay Governor.