I’m in ODM to Stay! Jalang’o Says Amid Raila’s Call to Resign
Lang’ata Member of Parliament, Phelix Odiwuor, widely recognized as Jalang’o, asserts his commitment to remain in ODM despite the recent urging from party leader Raila Odinga for dissenting MPs collaborating with the government to step down and contest afresh under a UDA affiliation.
On Sunday, while addressing a recruitment event for ODM in Nairobi, Raila asserted that Jalang’o and four other MPs should not retain their ODM membership in Parliament if they persist in collaborating with the government.
Raila stated that he had already communicated with the Lang’ata MP and his fellow politicians, urging them to demonstrate their courage by seeking renewed mandates through UDA tickets.
“We have agreed that all those elected as MPs in our parties have a term of five years. If you want to leave ODM and join UDA, then leave Parliament and return to the people to be re-elected under UDA,” Raila said.
“In Nairobi, we have Lang’ata MP and you know the rest. We have told them that we are returning to the ground and if you get re-elected on UDA, that is fine but we must go back to the election.”
In reply, Jalang’o expressed no reservations about approaching voters again and seeking their re-election, emphasizing that he would continue to do so under the banner of the ODM party.
“I’m man enough, the question is even if I were to resign today, there is not IEBC. There’s no one to conduct elections,” he said during an interview on Obinna TV on Tuesday.
But if there was you would, he was asked.
“Why not,” he said. “But I would still run under ODM, that’s my party.”
The Lang’ata legislator expressed that he has no intention of departing from ODM for any other political group. He emphasized that his collaboration with the government is solely driven by a commitment to development.
He mentioned that despite being closely affiliated with the ruling UDA, he remains a committed member of ODM, faithfully fulfilling the monthly dues obligatory for all elected party members.
“So, I’m in ODM, if they want me to go back to the elections, I will go back then they call nominations again then I beat all of them again under ODM,” Jalang’o said.
“Then I still become an ODM Member of Parliament in Lang’ata. I have never left, I’m just working for the people of Lang’ata.”
In defiance of his party leader’s position, Jalang’o has opted to collaborate with President William Ruto’s administration. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that he maintains a positive and strong connection with Raila.
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“I’m not a prodigal son, Baba is my father. Number one, Baba loves me so much. People are talking but they cannot even reach Baba. If I call Baba right now he will pick up because he knows this is my son,” he said.
So you don’t feel like there’s something you did wrong? He was asked.
“There’s nothing I did wrong,” he said adding that he has never betrayed the party.
Jalang’o, along with Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Suba MP Caroli Omondi, Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, are seen as dissenters for diverging from the party line and collaborating with the Ruto administration.
ODM’s National Executive Committee expelled the five individuals in September of the previous year, as the party found that their actions were contrary to the official party stance.
However, on November 29, 2023, the Political Parties Tribunal revitalized its presence within the opposition group by overturning the disciplinary committee’s verdict to expel them.
The Tribunal declared the removal improper, stating that the ODM Disciplinary Committee lacked a proper constitution. Consequently, the National Executive Committee’s endorsement of the decision to expel the five MPs was deemed null and void, holding no legal significance.
“This Honourable Tribunal declares that the disciplinary proceedings against the complainant were unprocedural and in violation of the right to fair administrative action and fair hearings as per Article 47 and 50 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Section 14A(2) of the Political Parties Act, the Fair Administrative Action Act,” a verdict read by Tribunal chair Desma Nungo on read in part.
I’m in ODM to Stay! Jalang’o Says Amid Raila’s Call to Resign
