From Tibim to Jowi: Raila's most hilarious phrases
National
By
Mike Kihaki
| Oct 15, 2025
In a political scene often marked by rivalry and rhetoric, Raila Odinga has carved a legacy as Kenya’s philosopher politician, turning serious moments into humour, grief into poetry and language into power.
In November 2023, at the height of political protests and economic frustration, Odinga quoted William Shakespeare: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” With his usual calm tone, he added, “Death is a necessary evil.”
The remark shared widely on social media drew laughter and reflection in equal measure. Supporters saw it as vintage Raila, witty yet reflective, softening political tension with philosophy. Within hours, memes flooded the internet, many captioned, “Even death sounds poetic when Baba says it.”
Odinga’s mastery of language has long defined his political style.
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At a rally in 2017, he quipped, “Wale wa kupenda saloon watakuwa Thesalonians, Waluhya wa Ugali ndio Wagalileo, Mafisi tutakuwa Wafilisti!” turning biblical names into cultural jokes about Kenya’s diversity. The joke went viral, spawning memes that lingered for months.
His catchphrases have often transcended politics into national culture. The chants “Tibim!” and “Tialala!” became rallying cries during campaigns, blending rhythm and emotion into political identity. “It’s not just a word, it’s a feeling,” noted a supporter in Kisumu.
Then came “Canaan,” his 2017 promise to lead Kenyans to a land “flowing with milk and honey” symbolising liberation from corruption. Though he never reached that “Canaan,” the term became shorthand for hope and resilience, an idea that politics could still carry faith.
Even rivals have echoed his phrases. Then Deputy President William Ruto once remarked, “Tibim na reggae sio ajenda ya maendeleo,” a jab that admitted, however grudgingly, the influence of Odinga’s slogans.
In 2018, when Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta shared a public dance to “Red Red Wine” after their famous handshake, the moment became an emblem of unexpected unity. Comedian Eric Omondi parodied the clip, and Kenyans joked, “Only Baba can dance his way into peace.”
Beyond humour, Odinga’s words often carry cultural weight. In moments of mourning, he invokes the Luo cry “Jowi!”, a call of honour and grief used to celebrate heroes and mourn fallen allies. Each time he cries it the word resonates far beyond Luo tradition, binding history, identity and national loss.
Political analyst John Mbai observed that Odinga’s oratory “turns politics into performance; he doesn’t just inform, he connects.”
For a man often called Baba, the father of Kenya’s opposition, Odinga’s influence lies not only in his politics but in his poetry. In laughter, in lament, in Shakespeare or in slang, his words continue to remind Kenyans that politics at its heart is still deeply human.