Kitui Governor, Charity Ngilu, was a permanent feature in retired President Mwai Kibaki's government but it all changed, when her association with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga became evident.
Odinga, in his biography, Flame of Freedom, narrated the events that led to Ngilu's dismissal from Cabinet in 2007.
It was October 6, 2007, when Raila launched his presidential campaign on an ODM ticket at Uhuru Park.
Shortly after his arrival at the event, Ngilu, who was heading the Health Ministry at the time, showed up in her official car, complete with a ministerial flag.
She fought her way through the mammoth crowd to join Odinga on the podium.
When the crowd demanded that she addresses them, she bravely stated that her colleagues in government had betrayed the people and that she now wanted to work with Odinga.
"Within an hour of the rally, State House announced that Ngilu had been relieved of her duties as a Cabinet minister.
"At an ODM women's conference a couple of weeks later, on October 22, I formally welcomed Ngilu as the sixth member of the Pentagon," Raila recalled.
Other members of the Pentagon were Deputy President William Ruto, Tourism CS Najib Balala, former VP Musalia Mudavadi and politician Joe Nyaga.
Months before, Ngilu had refused to dissolve her Narc Party to join PNU which was supporting Kibaki's reelection.
