Nairobi — Mr Nicholas Biwott, one of the most powerful politicians in the Kanu Government, was among the first casualties in the elections held on Thursday.

The former Keiyo South MP, the self-confessed Total Man, has since the referendum vote in 2005 waged a spirited attempt to derail Kanu's cooperation with ODM.

At one time, he staged a coup against the party chairman, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, an attempt that was stopped by the High Court.

Later, he had his way when Uhuru broke ranks with ODM and backed President Kibaki.

Biwott led a team of Kanu MPs in the Rift Valley who opposed Kanu's alignment with ODM.

One was Health minister and former Bureti MP, Mr Paul Sang, who has lost elections.

Biwott was born in Chebor, Keiyo District, in 1941. He attended Tambach African Government School where Moi was one of his teachers.

He began working at the Department of Information in Eldoret. Later, he and Kendagor Bett published the Kalenjin Monthly newsletter.

Biwott studied government and economics in Australia between 1960 and 1965 and graduated with a BA degree.

He was employed as DO Officer and in 1974 ran for the Keiyo seat but lost. But he won in 1979 and has retained the seat since.

Between 1979 and 1982, Biwott was the Minister for Regional Development, Science and Technology

Between 1982 and 1991, he became the Minister for Energy.

January- December 1997: Minister of State in the Office of the President

*1998-1999: Minister of East African and Regional Co-operation

*1999-2001: Minister of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry

*June 2001-December 2002: Minister of Trade and Industry.