Lang’ata Member of Parliament (MP) Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o has defended his decision to meet President William Ruto at State House.

Ruto on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, held a consultative meeting at State House with a section of MPs from Nyanza region.

Other Azimio MPs who met the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua are; Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

During an interview with Eric Latiff and Ndu Okoh on Spice FM on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Jalang’o was put to task to explain how he was rubbing shoulders with Ruto yet his party leader Raila Odinga does not recognise his legitimacy as president.

“You are in the minority. Your leadership in the minority is pushing another agenda right which is saying ‘look we believe our leader won this election and we do not then recognise the legitimacy of this people who are who are in power and we are going to push for these people who are in power now to vacate office because they are not there legitimately. Where does that leave you?” Eric Latiff asked Jalang’o.

“It leaves me to stand with the party and the party leader and the party conversation at any given time. My support for my party leader, my party has never been questioned in any given day,” the Lang’ata MP replied.

Jalang’o stressed that his meeting with Ruto at State House centred on matters development only.

“One of the first projects of the president was actually in Langata. When we launched affordable homes, which the start date is actually today, and that was the reason why I was called to State House yesterday. Everything that we discussed yesterday was nothing political. We discussed everything development-oriented and that was it,” Jalang’o said.

He added; “The president called the meeting.”

The Lang’ata MP further disclosed that Raila gave ODM lawmakers the ok to work with Ruto on matters development.

“When this project was happening the first time I called my party leader and told him that Mr William Ruto then now is coming to my constituency to launch this project do I go? He told me if it is anything development go ahead and be part of it. And Baba himself has given all of us a key to work with the president matters development.

“You saw him visit Homa Bay the other day Siaya and Kisumu he was welcomed with all these MPs, all these governors and they even had meetings at State House. Now that tells you one thing, that the key Baba lieutenants definitely seen around president William Ruto they will always question our loyalty because we are on the forefront. Every single rally, every single space Baba has been you have always seen me,” Jalang’o said.

Ndu Okoh asked the Lang’ata MP if he would still have gone to State House if Raila told him not to go in light of the recent development where the ODM leader has refused to recognise the president’s legitimacy.

“Since then things have become salty significantly. Had he told you then in light of this that we do not recognise these one, two, three. Would you Jalang’o have not gone if Raila Odinga said ‘no we don’t recognise this guy do not go’?” Okoh posed to Jalang’o.

The Lang’ata MP stated that in that scenario he would have been forced to defy his party leader Raila Odinga.

“I would still have gone since being development I would still ask what the agenda and if it still stands as development I would still go because the people of Lang’ata do not care who is president or who is not. What they care for is the delivery of the mandate they gave me. It is the people of Lang’ata who will judge me at the end of this all,” Jalang’o said.