He held the dual roles of King spiritual and military leader, and had the authority to make decisions regarding security particularly the waging of war.
The word predates the office it would represent among the Nandi as evinced by its presence in other Kalenjin communities e.g. Kony (orkōan, orkōandet) and Suk (werkoiyon).
[3] Huntingford (1972) notes that the men-folk of the Kamwaike oret were the traditional orkoiik in Nandi before the Masai family of Kapuso took the pre-eminence from them.
[6] The second dynasty was founded through a woman named Moki chebo Cheplabot, the wife of a Maasai Laibon who fled during a war with the Nandi while pregnant.
They did not however play a large role in the affairs of everyday life; which were handled by the Kiruogik, heads of the districts and direct representatives of the people.