Jack Nyamburi, a long-time aide to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has shared a striking story about how his journey with the veteran politician began in a very unexpected way. What started as a tense and confusing first meeting eventually grew into a working relationship built on trust, discipline, and loyalty over many years.
Nyamburi recalls that the first time he met Odinga was in 2005 outside the Nairobi Serena Hotel. Odinga had just finished a meeting with constitutional expert Professor Yash Pal Ghai, who was then leading the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. Nyamburi says he did not expect anything unusual to happen that day.
However, the encounter took him by surprise. He claims that Odinga slapped him three times before getting into his car. The moment was shocking and left him confused, especially because it happened so suddenly and without any explanation. It was not the kind of introduction anyone would ever expect.
Despite that difficult start, Nyamburi did not walk away. Instead, he stayed around and continued working close to Odinga’s team. Over time, he began to understand the demands, pressure, and discipline that came with working in such a high-profile political environment.
Slowly, his role began to grow. What started as small errands and basic support work developed into more serious responsibilities. Through consistency and reliability, he earned trust and was eventually promoted from a messenger to one of Odinga’s close personal assistants.
Nyamburi later worked with Odinga through major political periods, including the Grand Coalition government and several election campaigns. These years exposed him to the inner workings of national politics and the demands placed on top political leaders.
Looking back, Nyamburi describes the journey as surprising but meaningful. A moment that began with shock eventually turned into a long career defined by loyalty, discipline, and close working trust with one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.