Growing up as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's younger sister is a tall order by any stretch of the imagination, leaving one's mark looks seemingly impossible bearing in mind just how huge of a shadow the former leaves behind.
However, this is exactly what Ruth Odinga has painstakingly accomplished.
The former Kenya High school student once confessed her dislike to being referred to as 'Raila's sister' across various media platforms, arguing that it painted her as someone who was using her brother's clout for favours.
“I am a strong lady who has been articulating national issues without necessarily relying on my brother. And now that I have so many titles, I do not understand why some people must continue referring to me as Raila’s sister and not mention some of the titles I currently have,” she disclosed to The Standard in a past interview.
The former Kisumu County Deputy Governor as well as Kenya Network of Women Governors (KENWOG) founding chair, joined active politics back in 2013.
Despite losing to Kisumu's first governor, Jack Ranguma during the ODM party nominations, the resilient Ruth lined up alongside him, going on to serve her home county for the next four years.
She once confessed to having been President Uhuru's closest friends back when they were growing up.
“When they came to Kisumu with their father (Uhuru’s father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta) we used to play together. Uhuru is a good friend of mine, a very personal friend. It’s only our political paths that were different,” she once confessed to The Standard.
“I was in Kenya High while the President was at St Mary’s. I even knew his college sweethearts,” she added.
However, things weren't always rosy between the two famous families, with Uhuru's father placing hers under arrest.
“When my father was under house arrest and I was then a pupil at Victoria Primary School in Kisumu, I used to be taken to Central Police Station for inspection. I was forced to undress before being inspected, then I would be asked to dress again after which I would get clearance to go to school,” she recounted.
Their fortunes dipped due to the dwindling relationship, with Ruth confessing to having had to sell mangoes to make some much needed extra cash.
She recently revealed that her brother's handshake deal with President Uhuru had helped her come county in terms of attracting investors.
