Jalang'o Chased From Azimio Event After Raila Arrives [VIDEO]

The MP, clad in a white shirt, was seen trying to access the venue when a group of angry men made attempts to...

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Feb 9, 2023 - 09:08 Updated: Feb 9, 2023 - 10:25
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Jalang'o Chased From Azimio Event After Raila Arrives [VIDEO]
Rowdy youths blocking Langata MP Phelix Odiwour from accessing the venue of the Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023. /PHILLIP MURUTU

UPDATE: Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor (Jalang'o) has been kicked out of an Azimio la Umoja parliamentary group meeting at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County, minutes after former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga arrived at the venue.

Speaking to the media after being kicked out, Jalang'o stated that he was asked by a close security guard of Raila to leave the venue.

"Minutes after I walked in, one of his (Raila) close security asked me to walk out, and that is what I did. I feel bad because I love baba and I am a member of ODM. I feel bad that I cannot be there since Raila is in there," he said.

Asked whether he would apologise for his change of direction from the ODM party, Jalang’o said; “There is no apology about it, I went there for development. I am still in Azimio, I am still a member of ODM. This is politics."

Drama ensued on Thursday, February 9 as Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor (Jalang'o) was barred from attending the Azimio la Umoja Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting in Machakos.

The MP, clad in a white shirt, was seen trying to access the venue when a group of angry men made attempts to block him from entering the hall, where the meeting was taking place.

This then led to a commotion as his entourage went on to force their way into the venue. Meanwhile, the men who attempted to block Jalang'o from accessing the venue were heard chanting at the MP to go to State House.

Watch the video:

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and his Suna East counterpart Junet Mohamed were forced to intervene to reduce the scuffle which saw Jalas eventually gain access.

The Lang'ata MP had promised to attend the PG in Machakos convened by former Prime Minister and Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga.

Attempts to block him from attending the retreat came after he was among the nine MPs who were criticised by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party over their meeting with President William Ruto at State House on Tuesday, February 7.

The meeting saw Jalang'o accompany the MPs and it was reported that they had dumped Raila's party for Ruto's government.

Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, February 8, the first-time lawmaker defended the visit, arguing that the closed-door meeting was for the good of his constituents given the development projects that would benefit them if he teamed up with the government.

He added that he was discussing the logistics of the project to commence the following day, with the Head of State, adding that upon getting to the President's official residence, he found other ODM leaders there and was asked to join them.

"Remember the President's first project was in Lang'ata and that is why I was there. Ruto called for the meeting.

"I was told to sit with them because I come from the region. Being a leader, it was only noble that I sit with them there," he stated.

The former Kiss FM presenter added that he did not see anything wrong with meeting Ruto at State House even though he was in the opposition party, adding that he consulted first with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his meeting with Ruto.

“If today, for example, I was with Raila in a rally and there is no water in Lang’ata, the people of Lang’ata will not care what I said in that rally, they will care about water in Lang’ata. If today there is water in Lang’ata and I didn’t show up at Railas rally, my ardent supporters, ODM supporters, will not care that I was not there, but that there was water," he added.

In an apparent warning shot to the Azimio la Umoja coalition, Jalas likened political alignment with his employment history where he worked at different radio stations on different terms of employment, adding that he will not hesitate to dump the coalition if he feels it is not meeting his ambitions for the people of Lang'ata.

“If you’re not giving me what I want, I move. Life is a movement, join the movement. Forget about all other things.

“They run concurrently, development and politics. It’s just for you to know which direction you are following and at what time," he added.

The MP further said that he believed he was made for politics and maintained that he was a firm member of ODM and a supporter of Raila. He added that he would attend the planned Azimio rallies, including the one scheduled for Friday, February 10, in Mavoko, Machakos County.

He further asserted that they would keep Ruto's government in check, even though their newly-found relationship was based on development matters.

President William Ruto meets Jalang'o at State House on February 7, 2023. /PCS

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