Kitutu Chache South MP ANTHONY KIBAGENDI speaks to EDWIN NYARANGI about the ups and downs in his life and journey from campus student leader, Raila campaigner to then-DP Ruto's advisor

Tell us about your leadership journey.I served as the Secretary General of Maseno University Students Association and later founded a political part, VIPA, which was a bridge for especially young people to venture into politics. I was also the Vice Chairman of FORA (Friends of Raila), one of the biggest lobby groups that campaigned for Raila Odinga in 2013 and 2017. Later after losing the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary election in 2017, then-Deputy President William Ruto appointed me as his advisor on Youth Affairs, which was a wonderful learning experience in government operations and, of course, his political brilliance rubbed on me.

What is your professional background?I studied a Bachelor of Education Degree specialising in English Literature at Maseno University but immediately after college, I did not practice my career but ventured into a car hire business and running a security firm which I still do to date. Why did you defect from Ruto to Raila's camp in the recent election?That was a masterstroke. You know I consider myself Raila's son, and my constituency is an ODM zone. I had to do what I had to do to get elected as I also supported Raila Odinga to get elected as President. Basically, I listened to the ground and here I am today.