On Monday, April 10, Ida Odinga chastised Lang’ata, MP Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o, and other erstwhile allies for deserting former leader Raila Odinga.
Ida mentioned the first-term Member of Parliament was her close friend until he swore allegiance to the Kenya Kwanza regime in her address at the wedding of musician Esther Akoth aka Akothee.
She acknowledged that Jalang’o is her village neighbor and that their dwellings are only divided by a road.
Ida mentioned that she thought of Jalang’o as a son and inquired if the MP would disown her considering their strong relationship since she spoke in the Dholuo dialect.
Significantly, the congressman addressed Ida as “mom” and stood up as a display of respect when she spoke his name.
“I am so happy to see some of my friends who are politicians. They were my best friends until the elections. One of them is Jalang’o.
“Can you really disown me? You know that the Kisumu – Busia Road separates your home from mine,” she stated.
Consequently, she acknowledged the presence of other Raila allies who had recently fallen out with the ODM party, including Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and Raila’s former close aide Silas Jakakimba.
She advised the lawyer (Jakakimba) to find his way back ‘home’ even as she added that she still considered him a son.
“My son Jakakimba you have always been my son. Go and do everything there and come back home,” she advised.
Ida met the trio at the wedding of Akothee, which she also attended by Kenya Kwanza leaders, including Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa.
Jalang’o and Nyamita pledged support for the government during a visit to the State House on February 7. The duo explained that they were working with the government for development purposes.
Speaking on the decision to join the government, Jalang’o lamented that his life and his family were in danger, but he was ready to serve one term if need be.
On the other hand, Jakakimba quit the ODM party over differences with Ida’s daughter – Winnie Odinga.
“It is imperative moving forward that Winnie learns to respect people for who they are – if not least, for what they have been in a long journey of several lows and countable highs, for love of Country,” he stated then.
