Phelix Odiwuor

Phelix Odiwuor Khodhe, more popularly known as Jalang'o / Jalas or Heavy J Baba is a Kenyan Politician- Current member of parliament for Langata Constituency which he won on an Orange Democratic Movement ( ODM) Party ticket against his predecessor Hon.Nixon Kiprotich Korir.^[2][3] Prior to his political ambitions, Jalas was also a radio presenter, comedian, actor, events master of ceremonies (MC), talk show host and philanthropist celebrity in Kenya.^[4]

Honourabe Phelix Khodhe
Member of Parliament for Langata Constituency^[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 September 2022
Preceded by	Nixon Korir
Personal details
Born	Phelix Odiwuor Kodhe (1980-04-27) 27 April 1980 (age 43) Homa Bay, Kenya
Education	Daystar University, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Newsreader, anchorman, presenter, actor and master of ceremonies
Nickname	Jalang'o or Jalas

Early life and education

Jalas was born on April 27, 1980, in Homa Bay town, rural Kenya. For his early education, he attended Homabay Lake Primary School in Homa Bay County and Nyang'oma Boys Secondary School in Siaya County. He later joined Daystar University where he graduated on 13 November 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development degree.

Career

Odiwuor appeared as Jalang'o in Citizen TV's Papa Shirandula, and that's how he earned this stage name, later shortened to 'Jalas'.

He began his career as a radio presenter in 2004, where he worked alongside veteran media personality Caroline Mutoko. He then transitioned to Radio Maisha^[5] in 2012, after which he later moved on to Hot 96 FM in 2017 till 2018 when he moved to Radio Milele.^[6] In July 2020, Odiwuor went back to where he began his radio career as a morning presenter at Kiss 100 where he was a co-host to Kamene Goro. He also started his own company, Arena Media, which does advertising and marketing. He also does brand ambassador jobs for various corporate brands.^[7]

Odiwuor has a YouTube channel, Jalang'o TV, where he interviews personalities from various walks of life.^[8]

Controversy

In August 2021, the Daily Nation and The Standard reported Odiwuor as implicated in being a member of a Nairobi-based criminal syndicate involved in a variety of advance-fee scams including Black money scams, sometimes even drug trafficking, armed robbery, contract killings, and enforced kidnappings in Kenya.^[9][10][11] According to the articles Odiwour is involved in money laundering of ill-gotten wealth through legitimate businesses that then receive criminal proceeds as part of sales of the legitimate business and consequently deposited into bank accounts of the legitimate business.^[12] He was accused among other members of the gang of being a silent partner in the numerous scams by using publicity and his day job as a decoy of criminal activities for the gang.^[13] According to the articles, the gang engages in violent confrontations, contract killings, mysterious deaths and enforced kidnappings in subsequent cover up activities.^{[11][13][14][12]}

Politics

As a candidate for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he was elected MP for Langata Constituency in the 2022 Kenyan general election^[15] after defeating his opponent Hon. Nixon Kiprotich Korir.^[16][17][18]

References

1. "Comedian Jalang'o wins Lang'ata MP seat". 11 August 2022.
2. Digital, Standard. "Jalang'o declared winner in Lang'ata MP race". Standard Entertainment.
3. "Citizen Digital". 11 August 2022.
4. "Pulse Live". 2 September 2021.
5. "Radio Maisha online". Radio.or.ke. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
6. "The untold story of Jalang'o". 2018-06-11.
7. "Jalang'o explains the source of his wealth". The Star. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
8. "Home". Jalango TV - Kenya No.1 Online TV. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
9. Kimuyu, Hillary (30 August 2021). "Jalang'o: I'm not involved in 'Wash Wash'". daily Nation.
10. Reporter, K24 (30 August 2021). "Jalang'o distances self from wash wash business". K24 TV.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
11. Kamaris, Karecha (14 March 2020). "Nairobi Underground Figure Dafton Mwaitiki Feared Dead; All Eyes On Steve Mbogo – Cyprian Is Nyakundi". Çnyakundi.com.
12. "Blogger Edgar Obare Exposes Wash Wash Cartels Who Worked With Kevin Omwenga". KahawaTungu. 29 August 2021.
13. Nyambura, Eva (30 August 2021). "Jalang'o Denies Involvement in Dubious Deals Implicating "Flamboyant Businessmen" (Video)". KahawaTungu.
14. Kimani, Brian (5 September 2021). "Edgar Obare: My Brother has Been Kidnapped and Tortured". Kenyans.co.ke.
15. Musalia, Wycliffe (2022-08-18). ""Make it yours": Lang'ata MP-elect gives 80% shares of TV channel to employees". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
16. "KTN News". YouTube.
17. Mahugu, Jacqueline. "Lang'ata MP Nixon Korir concedes defeat before final tally". The Standard.
18. "Lang'ata MP Korir concedes defeat, congratulates Jalang'o". The Star.