Ruto Installed as Teso Elder, Receives Traditional Name “Ojokotau”

President William Ruto has been installed as an elder of the Teso community and bestowed with the traditional name “Ojokotau” during a meeting with Teso leaders at State Lodge, Eldoret.

The ceremony took place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, during an engagement between President Ruto and grassroots leaders from the Teso community, mainly drawn from Busia County.

The name Ojokotau, interpreted as “someone with a big heart,” was bestowed on the President as a cultural gesture symbolising the community’s recognition and relationship with his leadership.

During the meeting, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, who presented a memorandum on behalf of the delegation, said the community had resolved to strengthen its unity and work closely with the national government on development.

“We have chosen unity; we have chosen partnership, we have chosen to participate in building Kenya with you, Your Excellency,” Kaunya said.

The engagement also carried political significance, coming less than a year before the 2027 General Election.

Teso leaders from Busia publicly expressed support for Ruto’s bid for a second term, with community representatives pledging to work with his administration.

The meeting therefore brought together cultural recognition, development discussions and political engagement as the President continues his outreach to communities across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.

For the Teso community, leaders used the engagement to present their priorities and highlight projects they believe could stimulate economic growth, improve infrastructure and strengthen connectivity in the region.

President Ruto has increasingly engaged grassroots leaders and community representatives as part of efforts to promote his administration’s development agenda while consolidating political support ahead of the next General Election.