By Joshua Cheloti

Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor has defended his decision to attend a meeting at the State House, Nairobi.

The MP popularly known as Jalang’o has been on the receiving end for attending the meeting which the ODM party has said it did not give a green light.

He was among 9 Nyanza leaders that attended the meeting convened by President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

While those that attended the meeting have been branded names by ODM loyalists, Jalang’o insists there were no political discussions involved.

Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, the former Radio Presenter insisted that he made a decision to attend the meeting because he wants development for his people.

“People of Lang’ata do not care who the president is or not. All they care about is development.”

“It is the same people that will judge me after five years based on what I will have delivered,” the MP said.

“We need to differentiate between politics and development,” he added.

According to the Lang’ata MP, he will keep attending Ruto’s development meetings until when his party leader – Raila Odinga will issue a new directive.

He argues that Raila has in the past allowed him to attend meetings convened by Ruto, whose agenda was development.

“I am waiting for a statement from Baba (Raila Odinga) to tell me whether I should also not attend developments.”

” When that direction comes, we will discuss it,” Jalang’o said.

He however insisted that he is still an active member of the Azimio coalition and that he will attend the upcoming Mavoko ‘public consultation rally’ in Machakos County later this week.

“We have a rally in Machakos this Friday or Saturday. The day is not yet clear. I will be there because that is politics,” the Lang’ata MP said.

The ODM legislators’ visit to the State House followed by a visit by over 30 Jubilee MPs has since seen the Azimio coalition call for a parliamentary group meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023.

It is expected the meeting will be used to put the opposition’s house in order before Parliament resumes next week after a long recess.