Has ODM leader Raila Odinga put aside differences with Jalang'o?

ODM Leader Raila Odinga and Langata MP Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o during a party at the weekend. [Source; Jalang'o, Twitter]

Lang’ata Constituency Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang’o has hinted at a possible reconciliation with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga.

The comedian cum politician took to his social media pages on Saturday, July 29 night and shared pictures of himself and the Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Alongside seven others, Jalang’o has been on the ODM party’s wrong side, after meeting with President William Ruto (the party’s political rival) without notifying its leadership.

“Thank you Honorable Caleb Hamisi my brother for inviting me home for your daughter’s birthday, what an evening.  May your home be blessed and may your daughter live to blow 1001 candles,” the first-term MP captioned the pictures.

In the room, other political leaders present were former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

The photos have elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans online with speculations of whether the MP had reconciled with the party leader after months of differing politically.

Efforts to reach the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and the MP for a comment were futile as they did not answer our calls.

However, sources close to the ODM party and who sought anonymity said that there is a high possibility the MP had asked for an apology.

“We all know what those pictures mean. Otherwise, let us all wait for the outcome of the disciplinary hearing,” the source said.

Jalang’o was one of the ODM party’s elected lawmakers who appeared before a disciplinary committee for violating the party’s constitution.

According to the ODM’s Disciplinary Committee Chair Prof Ben Sihanya, the fate of the party’s rebel MPs lies with its National Executive Council.

He said the committee’s functionality ceased after hearings.

“I cannot comment much about their fate. That is beyond me. After the sittings, we give a report to the NEC which will now decide the fate of the lawmakers. Our committee became functus officio after the sittings,” Prof Sihanya said.

NEC is the top organ in the party's structure.

The former radio host, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda among others is said to have warmed up to President William Ruto’s leadership and went against the opposition by agreeing to work with him.

Azimio locked them out of most of the meetings and were even having plans of removing them from the party but gave them a second chance through the disciplinary hearing.

However, on Sunday, July 29, Jalang’o, through the photos he posted, was seen dining and wining with the opposition as he sat next to Odinga.

A video was also recorded as the gathering happily danced to a Luhya hit song namely 'Vaida'. Drinks are seen on the table while others are hand-held by members of the gathering and at some point, Jalang’o instructs the person taking the video to cut the recording.