Tuko Tayari is the official slogan for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party (Swahili for We are ready).

The now-famous slogan has been consistently used by the party and its leaders in various rallies and communications.

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga used the slogan in many political rallies to charge up the supporters before delivering bold messages, including during his time as the opposition leader, when he used to organise protests.

Who coined it

Speaking during the ODM founding members’ dinner in Mombasa on Saturday, November 15, 2025, the founding chairman, Henry Kosgey, revealed that Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o is the one who came up with the slogan.

“When we were looking for a slogan, he is the one who came up with the one (referring to Anyang Nyong’o) ‘Tuko Tayari,” Koskey disclosed.

He, however, did not give the exact date Nyong’o helped ODM get its now-famous slogan.

Nonetheless, Kosgey maintained that the slogan stood out as a rallying call for struggle, taking ODM members down memory lane on how the party was conceived.

Ugatuzi

At the same time, Kosgey credited Rosemary Odinga for coming up with the word “ugatuzi,” a Swahili word that means “devolution.” Before she stepped in, Raila and his lieutenants were struggling with how to shape their campaign message, as they were firm believers in devolution.

However, they were using majimbo, a word that did not augur well with some communities, especially from the Rift Valley.

“We continued as a party towards the elections of 2007, and I can tell you, it was a hot election. I can tell you we fought on principles. We came up with that Chungwa Moja, Maisha Bora,” Kosgey recalled.

“But that time, there was also this idea of majimbo, and everyone thought this majimbo meant some ethnic occupation, particularly in the Rift Valley. Nobody wanted to hear it, but our brothers thought majimbo meant being expelled from an area. So we thought, What is the next word?”

“So one day, Rosemary Odinga came up with the word ugatuzi. A young lady came up with that word, yet we were wondering if there is another word besides majimbo. But imagine, a young lady from Nyanza came up with the word ugatuzi because one of the principles of ODM was devolution,” he disclosed.