Jakom, Owad gi Akinyi, Arap Mibei: The story behind Raila’s many names

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a man of many firsts and many names – he was rarely referred to by just one. They called him Jakom, an honorific that acknowledged his authority as party leader and de facto leader of the Luo, a figure expected to steer the political ship.

They called him Agwambo, meaning the unpredictable one, because his political moves often surprised even his allies. In the 1990s, he became Tinga, the tractor, born from the symbol of his National Development Party, suggesting a workhorse ploughing through obstacles.