Winnie, Kalonzo son: Political scions cut from different cloth

"I have travelled the region, I have studied it and I know it well. We lose when we compete against each other instead of working together," says Winnie as she highlighted her suitability for the well-paying job.

After her nomination, Winnie tweeted: "As the biggest economy in the region, it's time for Kenya to roar and lead in bringing the EAC together. I believe I know how."

She thereafter drew a lot of support from Kenyans who called on parliament to approve the nomination and stop profiling her because of her relationship with the ODM leader.

"I've never been a fan of Winnie Odinga but this weird treatment she is facing by owning "Odinga" in her six names is sickening. Our MPs should sober up and send this vibrant, intelligent and proactive woman to EALA! Tuweke sasa siasa kando, tuwache chuki na upuzi bana," tweeted one supporter.

Winnie now becomes the first scion in the Raila family to assume political office, thus following the footsteps of her famous father, a journey that could perhaps lead to bigger opportunities in future.

She played a big role in her father's presidential campaign early this year, especially at the secretariat as the person in charge of corporate communication and branding of the candidate.

Although some party officials blamed her for allegedly being overbearing and exerting too much influence during the campaigns, others say she was a team player who did everything to make them succeed.

"She is a perfectionist who always wanted things done properly, sometimes spending her own money to make it happen and was therefore very instrumental in everything we did," says Philip Etale, the ODM Director of Communications.

He argues that Winnie and Kennedy merited the positions of MP at EALA because they are both self-driven individuals who will serve the country well.

Etale describes them as people of opposite traits because Winnie is an outspoken personality who does not shy away from controversial issues while Kennedy is more reserved.

Raila Odinga with his daughter Winnie at Harare airport, Zimbabwe, February 2018. [File, Standard]

Speaking in a TV interview this week, she said the name Odinga has gotten her into trouble, abused, blamed for many things and persecuted.

But on the flip side it has also been a blessing and it is therefore a name she will be proud to defend, although she hastened that it does not define Winnie.

To succeed in politics, players must be ready for all kinds of challenges, which she is ready for.

"He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You've never turned wrong to right. You've been a coward in the fight," she quotes Charles Mackay.

Like her father, Winnie is fond of discussing continental issues and championing for the rights of the underprivileged across Africa.

"In every major airport on this continent, there is a dingy room filled with fellow Africans. How in the age of the AU are African governments terming fellow Africans illegal aliens while foreigners can enter the continent visa-free," she contends.

Winnie is the fourth-born child of Raila and Ida Odinga. She was named after the late South African President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife, the late Winnie Mandela- a South African apartheid heroine.

As for Kennedy, Etale says he appears to be a person who unlike his father prefers to be very private and non-confrontational.

In 2017, his nomination to EALA stirred controversy after some MPs opposed it claiming that he had been picked because he was the son of Nasa presidential running mate Kalonzo Musyoka.

The Leader of Majority in the National Assembly at the time Aden Duale protested and rallied MPs not to allow any form of political dynasty in the EALA nominations.

But just as happened this week that storm cooled off and all nominations, including that of Raila's elder brother Oburu Oginga were approved by parliament.

Although critics look at him as "laid back" politician, Kennedy describes himself as his own man who has been an active member of the Wiper party that sponsored his nomination.

Kennedy is Kalonzo's first-born child who grew up in Nairobi and went to local schools before moving to Australia for university studies.