Calvince Gaucho, the president of Bunge la Wananchi addressing the media at Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi on November 17, 2022. PHOTO | WINNIE ONYANDO
“We have not talked with Raila Odinga about replacing Jalang’o.”
Those were the words of the self-proclaimed Bunge la Mwananchi president Calvince Okoth aka Gaucho when Nairobi News asked him about the possibility of replacing Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor aka Jalang’o
His sentiment comes amidst claims that Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga is grooming the vocal Gaucho to keep Jalang’o in check.
Mr Odinga has fallen out with Jalang’o, a first-term lawmaker on an ODM ticket, since he elected to work with President William Ruto.
Gaucho also explained that it was still early to talk about the 2027 general elections.
“Ni mapema sana kuzungumzia masuala ya kureplace mtu (its early to talk about replacing someone).”
However, he reveals that Azimio’s main concern right now is to ensure that all their demands are met by President Ruto.
“Right now, we are concerned about Odinga. I am out of the picture for now but when the right time comes, we will see what will happen.”
Despite these sentiments, Gaucho recently declared himself as the acting Lang’ata Member of Parliament.
“Right now, I am the acting Lang’ata MP. I am their ODM representative in that area. I report to Baba their plight,” Gaucho declared at an Azimio rally in Migori.
He justified the interview by saying the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party now considered Jalang’o a defector after he warmed up to President Ruto.
“This was just a political statement. I said it because Lang’ata MP had met the president against the party’s will.”
Jalang’o, alongside other Azimio MPs including Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda met with the President in February 7, 2023 amid resistance movement led by Mr Odinga.
His move was condemned by the Azimio team with some terming it as a selfish act.
He was kicked out of Azimio’s Parliamentary Group meeting in Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County on February 9, 2023.
However, the former Kiss 100 presenter on several occasions has defended his move saying that he is still loyal to Azimio party leader Odinga.
The MP even said that the meeting was for the good of his constituents in Lang’ata who stand to benefit development-wise when he works closely with the government.
However, Odinga has told his followers to ignore people like Jalang’o saying they are not loyal. He has even proposed a law be put in place to punish MPs who shift allegiance on the party that sponsors them to Parliament.
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