Langata MP Jalang’o: I wish I never got into politics
Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has opened up about his deep regret over joining politics, revealing that the experience has been far more draining than he ever imagined.
Speaking candidly on the Alex Mwakideu Live podcast shared on Friday, August 8, 2025, the first-term MP said that if he had known the realities beforehand, he would never have ventured into the political arena.
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According to Jalang’o, the biggest shock has been the constant financial strain.
He explained that while he earned well during his media career, his resources have taken a significant hit since becoming an MP.
“I wish I had never joined politics. Had I known this is how politics looks, I’d have had no business getting into this thing,” he said.
He noted that politicians are constantly approached for money, from residents at the gate asking for Ksh1,000 or Ksh2,000, to watchmen and even waiters who expect handouts simply because “Mheshimiwa has arrived.”
Bureaucracy and delayed projects
Beyond the financial burden, Jalang’o highlighted the frustrating bureaucratic hurdles in government.
He lamented the slow pace at which funds are released, which in turn delays the implementation of much-needed projects.
“There is a lot of bureaucracy kwa gava. Jambo kubwa sana.. that is the only thing that I do not like. The delay of funds to come for projects to be implemented. Kama wewe ni mchapa kazi, you can be frustrated,” he said.
For the MP, the challenge lies in the fact that “the buck doesn’t stop with you” — even urgent projects can stall if funds are not released or budgeted for.
Future political ambitions
Despite his frustrations, Jalang’o hinted at possible higher ambitions.
“Inakua ngumu kama hujawai kuwa mjumbe kabla ya kuwa gavana. Hata hii 2027 ikikaa mbaya mbaya nitaamua pita nayo. Term mbili Lang’ata halafu gavana,” he remarked.
He advised anyone considering politics to think twice, especially if they already have a successful business or career that provides a stable income.
“Number one, like my brother, if you have your own business that gives you money, you eat it yourself, your family… You have no business getting into this thing [politics],” he told Mwakideu.
