Jalang’o Celebrates After Winning ODM Ticket For Lang’ata Parliamentary Seat

After beating Oscar Omoke in the Langata ODM nominations last week, what most people didn't know is that Phelix Odiwour, popularly known as Jalang'o had his win contested in the party tribunal afterward. Oscar Omoke who was Jalang'o's main competitor in the nominations later became the main petitioner after losing fair and square. I am not an ODM election official, but why do I think Omoke lost fair and square? First and foremost I am a south c ward resident and I have never seen Omoke campaigning in my area despite it being in Langata Constituency, Not even a single poster can be seen in South C bearing his name or picture, and even within the entire Langatta Constituency. He was a man who had left his destiny in the hands of ODM bigwigs who promised him the heavens and delivered nothing like politicians usually do. Oscar Omoke who had not run even a single campaign hoping to be handed the ticket on a silver platter had a shock of his life as finally, it dawned on him that the nominations will actually take place. It became apparent to him that what the party bigwigs had promised him wasn't going to happen. He frantically made last-minute efforts before the nominations, actually on the day of the nominations dashing from polling center to polling center to try and save the situation but it was a little too late. The boat had already sailed.

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Now, after the elections, he decides to contest Jalang'o's win. He rushed to the elections tribunal with a litany of complaints. It must be mentioned here that he was the immediate former ODM flagbearer in the last general election who lost to Nixon Korir. under his watch, the party lost its traditional seat of Langata constituency, the seat that was a reserve of baba, Raila Amollo Odinga, and the party for more than two decades. Not only did he lose the Langata seat during the 2017 elections, but he also had to contend with paying the IEBC and Nixon Korir a petition-losing fee of 5million shillings each. The 2017 petition dented his pockets and led to him running a poor campaign this year. Successful campaigns need money, lots of it and Omoke just didn't have it. Jalango who seemed to run a well-oiled campaign machine deserved the win. 

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Jalang'o or Jalas as he is popularly known is a former fisherman from Homabay who later became a  comedian and stunned many with his steady rise in the industry. He started his acting career together with his erstwhile friend Otos, in the popular Papa Shirandula program (at least that's what propelled them into the current fame) then later delved into media where he co-hosted a morning radio show with Alex Mwakideu, At Radio Maisha, a fete that propelled him to so much success that he became a household name and one of the much sought after radio cohost if not the only one. He later had a brief stint at Royal Media Services, co-hosting the morning show at Hot 96 FM with Jeff Koinange before reuniting once again with Alex MWakideu at Milele Fm, where it's rumored he resigned because his salary was slashed by more than half after the covid wave hit the country. However, he didn't stay long in the cold before Kiss 100 came knocking on the door. It is at Kiss 100 that Jalango reached the apex of his career I must say. They had a very good working relationship and complimented each other well with Alex Mwakideu, but was a perfect and beautiful match with Kamene Goro. He later resigned from Kiss and joined the murky waters of politics.

He was soon to learn that Politics in Kenya, iko na wenyewe first hand when he was asked to shelve his political ambitions in favor of Oscar Omoke. A committee of wazees from the Langata constituency was formed to come up with a consensus and advise the party. It held several meetings which Jalas attended, and was blatantly told to step down for Omoke. Reasons? Jalas is young, Omoke has been loyal to the party for a long time and 'unfairly' lost to Nixon Korir and thus has to be given a chance to beat him fair and square, and so many flimsy excuses to which Jalas politely declined. After holding several meetings that bore no fruits, meetings that bordered on threats and intimidations against Jalas, the wazees and the party finally realized they could not convince Jalas nor could they bully him into submission and so they let them face off in the nominations to which Jalas vanquished Omoke. A fete he repeated in the tribunal petition that Omoke had instituted.

Celebrating his tribunal win, Jalas could not hide his joy as he disclosed that he is happy to have received the good news on a day that he wa celebrating his birthday on April the 27th. "....today is my birthday too, so I am in a celebratory mood, celebrating my birthday and the court ruling....." Said Jalas in one of his social media posts. Jalas is married to a bundle of beauty Amina Chao and is blessed with three kids.

Looking at all the ODM aspirants for the Langata ticket I must say Jalas was and still is the better candidate to face the incumbent Nixon Korir, who brings with him a huge war chest to this contest, an advantage that not even the party could give to Omoke. Jalas stands a better chance of winning back to the ODM party the Langata seat and at the same time going by his philanthropic nature might just be what we the people of Langata have been waiting for, someone who is selfless and constantly thinking about others as opposed to other career politicians. we are waiting with bated breath for the day he assumes office. Karibu Mhesh, Karibu south c, Karibu Langatta.