Opposition leader Raila Odinga is basking in many Luo nicknames, most of which are meant to describe him as a superior and powerful political figure.
These include ‘Jakom’ which translates to ‘Chairman’ and points at his position at the helm of both the Luo Nyanza and national politics.
The other one is ‘Agwambo’ (the mysterious or unpredictable one), one of his oldest nicknames which he got in the 1980s.
The name, however, has no relationship with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader’s political activities and was not given to him, but he took it from elsewhere.
It appears that the name belonged to the son of a family friend of the Odingas, Former Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary General the late Denis Akumu.
Making the revelation in 2017, Akumu’s widow and Kisumu Women Representative aspirant in the previous poll Grace Akumu told residents how Raila adopted the name after finding it sweet.
In the late 1880’s, Raila had been released from detention and as he went to Jericho in Nairobi where his family lived in neighborhood with the Akumus, he lost his way, ending up in the Akumus’ home.
Later, the former Premier heard Denis being called Baba Agwambo (Agwambo’s dad), a name he was not familiar with, but it sounded good in his ears, and was successful in borrowing it.
"Raila was impressed by the name, and as he was leaving he jokingly said he would wish to adopt the name, and we reluctantly allowed him," she said as is quoted by the Standard.
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