Jalang'o Celebrates Raila Odinga With Sweet Post Despite Dumping Him For Ruto: "Forever Indebted"

• Jalang'o joined millions of Kenyans in celebrating Raila Odinga's 79th birthday
• The Lang''ata MP shared a photo he took with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader and showered him with praise
• Jalang'o, who ditched the ODM leader for Ruto, said he was forever indebted to Raila, describing him as a good man

Nairobi: Lang'ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, alias Jalang'o, has celebrated Raila Odinga's birthday.

Why Jalang'o celebrated Raila Odinga

Raila turned 79 on January 7, and Kenyans trooped to social media to celebrate him.

Jalango shared a photo he took with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader and showered him with praise. The first-time MP acknowledged Raila's support, saying he was forever indebted.

"Happy birthday, Jakom! Happy birthday Baba! Happy 79th Agwambo!

Thank you for everything! Forever indebted! You are a good man you will go to heaven," he said.

Apart from Jalang'o, several leaders wished Raila a happy birthday and more life. Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua was among the Azimio la Umoja principals to convey the message on her X page.

"Happy birthday kinara wangu Raila Odinga. May you have many happy returns to serve," Karua wrote.

Karen Nyamu also penned a sweet message to Raila. She wrote:

"My friend Jakom, The enigma. What would Kenyan politics be without you! Today I honour you for your footprint in our governance Happy birthday, Raila Odinga ."

Why is Jalang'o indebted to Raila?

A few months ago, Jalang'o maintained that he was still a bona fide member of Raila Odinga's fold.

The lawmaker got in the bad books of the ODM top brass after resolving to rally behind President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration.

Jalang'o, while defending his move to work with the government, explained he was running after state-funded development for his constituents.

Despite the presumed betrayal, the first-timer in the National Assembly explained that he had not fallen out with Raila.

The lawmaker said it would be difficult to think of ditching the former prime minister while considering the integral role he played in his election as MP. He revealed in an interview with TV47 that Raila boosted his campaign in the constituency with KSh 5 million.

"My campaigns would have been very hard. I know the big role that Baba (Raila) played in me being an MP. He supported me by not only endorsing me but also financially. I am among the people who Baba graced their campaigns to support them. Personally, he gave me KSh 5 million because it was tough," he said.

Jalang'o said he had no doubt that Raila still saw value in him, and this would not change in the near future.