Siaya Senator James Orengo is currently considered the closest ally and aide to opposition leader Raila Odinga.
However, things have not always been rosy between the two, as they were at some point political enemies, Odinga emerging the winner.
Opposed to the Orange party leader's endorsement of retired President Mwai Kibaki in the 2002 election campaigns, Orengo parted ways with him, temporarily ending their political friendship.
The Senator faulted the National Super Alliance (NASA) chief's 'Kibaki Tosha' campaign, terming Kibaki as an establishment person who had spent his time in government fighting opposition forces and who did not participate in the push for second liberation.
He therefore, vied for the presidency in the same race on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket in protest, but terribly lost, finishing fourth with only 0.4% of the cast votes, with Odinga's side going ahead to win on the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket.
Unable to stand Odinga's force and influence in Luo Nyanza, he also lost his Ugenya parliamentary seat which he had held since 1980 to Stephen Oluoch Ondiek who had Odinga's support as a NARC candidate.
Consequently, his SDP bloc also lost all its parliamentary seats, forcing him to reunite with Raila in his 2007 presidential attempt, regaining his parliamentary seat.
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https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000128860/james-orengo-i-had-to-part-ways-with-raila-odinga-in-2002