Jalang’o claims ODM asked him to shelve his parliamentary bid for job in Raila’s gov’t
By Mary Ouko, August 31, 2023
Lang’ata Member of Parliament (MP) Felix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang’o now claims that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party asked him to shelve his parliamentary bid in the Lang’ata MP contest in exchange for a job in Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition supremo Raila Odinga’s administration.
According to Jalang’o who was speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, August 31, 2023, the decision followed a dilemma on who to represent the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party in the election.
The lawmaker recalled that a meeting was held between the party elders before he was informed that he would be given a communication job at Raila’s presidential press if he won the election.
Prior to this, Jalang’o and other candidates were asked to meet and reach an agreement and front one candidate for the seat.
“Kwanza tulitumwa twende consensus tusikizane tuwape mtu mmoja ikakataa. Kukaitwa mkutano mkubwa sana wa wazee ilikumpatia ule mwingine ticket nikaambiwa wameamua yule ndio atapewa na Baba (Raila) amesema ni huyo.
“Wewe umepangiwa Baba akiingia utapewa kazi ya communication kwa Presidential press kwa sababu uko na tajriba katika utangazaji. Baba anaingia,” he stated.
This loosely translates to:
“We were asked to speak amongst ourselves and arrive at a consensus and front one candidate. A meeting was called by elders to give the ticket to the other guy,” Jalang’o said.
“I was told Raila had said he was the one to get the ticket and that they plan to give me a communication job if Baba became president, at the presidential press team because I have a background in media,” he added.
He, however, stood his stance and maintained that he wanted to contest for the seat because he was confident of winning the seat.
“Nikasema hio siiamini sana nataka hii. Tupelekeni nominations wananchi waamue kwa sababu nilikuwa najua campaign nimepiga, (I turned down the offer and I want this (to be MP) let’s go for the nominations for the people to decide)” Jalang’o said on Radio 47.