‘Dayat Nyaka Loki!’ Silas Jakakimba’s Bathing with Leaves Story Shakes Up Suba North

SUBA NORTH parliamentary candidate Silas Chepkeres Jakakimba on Tuesday, August 4, concluded a three day grassroots engagement tour across the constituency, rallying residents around his message of socio economic and inclusive development.

Jakakimba is campaigning to unseat long-serving area Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo. She has been an MP since 2008 when she was first nominated.

Jakakimba met with volunteer ground ambassadors and U.D.A ward delegates in Rusinga, Kasgunga, Mfangano, Lambwe and Gembe wards, where he invoked personal stories of hardship to anchor his call for Dayat Nyaka Loki—a rallying cry urging collective change.

He recounted growing up without basic necessities, at times bathing with asao leaves in place of soap and using the wrapper of the old Kimbo cooking fat brand as a substitute for petroleum jelly. He told his audiences that he had often attended school on an empty stomach, experiences he said shaped his understanding of deprivation and strengthened his resolve to champion improved living conditions for Suba North residents.

Jakakimba, who served as the late Raila Odinga’s personal aide for nearly two decades, told residents it was time for leadership that placed socio economic advancement at the center of its agenda. He positioned himself as the candidate capable of delivering that transformation, citing his extensive local and international networks as a resource he intends to leverage for the constituency’s benefit.

He pointed to recent national government investments—including the bitumen upgraded Rusinga ring road, the planned Mfangano Island ring road, and the anticipated government ferry—as evidence of unprecedented development momentum in the region.

Jakakimba urged residents to support President William Samoei Ruto’s 2027 reelection bid and reminded eligible youth to apply for national identification cards.

U.D.A’s Mbita Sub County chairman Okuku Miregi echoed the appeal, urging new I.D. holders to register with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Jakakimba capped his tour on Mfangano Island, assuring his home base that he was firmly in the race—and in it to win.

He pledged that his first Bill in the National Assembly would seek to outlaw the use of public funds to erect signboards on NG CDF funded projects, arguing that development should speak for itself rather than through signage.

The event drew a broad cross section of local leadership, including bodaboda representatives, U.D.A ward officials, the Suba Council of Elders (Mfangano chapter), teachers, clergy, women groups and businesspeople.

Also present were ODM leaders led by Suba North constituency chairman Narkisho Tuko, area MCA Tom Ojwang’ Raila, and all ward aspirants. In line with the spirit of the Broad based Government, they pledged to support Jakakimba’s bid to become Suba North’s next MP.