Azimio la Umoja party leader Raila Odinga was upbeat as he went out for lunch with his trusted lieutenants Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and former Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho. Also in their company was former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Junet and Joho have been missing since the last elections and there were speculations about a fallout between the duo and the former premier. Their absence in the anti government rallies have been conspicuous with them giving all the three rallies Mr Odinga held in Nairobi a wide berth.

Oparanya on the other hand, has been with Raila ever since and has attended all the rallies. This seems to be Raila’s strategy of consolidating his support base as both Junet and Joho played a key role in the run up to the last elections.

The lunch meeting came just hours after it emerged that nine Members of Parliament drawn from Mr Odinga’s political bastion of Luo Nyanza had been hosted at statehouse by President William Ruto.

In a quick rejoinder, the Orange party through its director of communications Philip Etale had dismissed the visit as one which was a selfish attempt by the MPs to undermine the party leadership.

The return of Joho and Junet is likely to intensify Mr Odinga’s calls for the exit of Ruto through resignation as Raila maintains that he won the elections.

Next anti Ruto rallies are slated for Friday in Machakos and Sunday in Busia. It remains to be seen whether the two prodigal sons will feature.