Silas Jakakimba was born John Ouko Silas, but formally changed his name in honor of his Mbita Village, Kakimba, in 2011. At only 27 he became the youngest student to earn a Master’s in law at the University of Nairobi's Parklands Campus and for his feat Microsoft founder Bill Gates invited him for a chat in Washington.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga picked Jakakimba from the National Youth Vote Coalition to serve as his personal aide during the 2007 presidential campaign and for four years during the Grand Coalition government.
After the death of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang, Jakakimba, a PhD Candidate in International Law at the University of the Witwatersrand, threw his hat into the ring, seeking to replace the ebullient Senator, but halfway withdrew from the race
