Phelix Odiwuor Khodhe, alias Jalang’o or Jalas is a Kenyan politician (current MP for Langata) which he won on an ODM Party ticket.
Before joining politics, Jalas has been a jack of all trades working as a radio presenter (Milele, Kiss, and Radio Maisha), a well-known comedian, actor, master of ceremonies (MC), talk show host (Bonga Na Jalas on YouTube) and philanthropist celebrity in Kenya.
Early Life and Education
He attended Homabay Lake Primary School and later Nyang’oma Boys Secondary School in Siaya. He was admitted to Maseno but his father couldn’t raise the fees for a national school. His chance was given to another student, after failing to report on time as his family solicited funds.
Jalas, 44, came from a very humble background in Homabay County. Both parents were native farmers who toiled to provide for their children, they lived a poor life.
After not doing very well in his KSCE, he decided to come to Nairobi to afford any menial job i the slums. His hustles and bustles in the city, working and networking in the entertainment circles, he made it to Daystar University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development degree in 2020.
Entertainment Career
Odiwuor first appeared on TV as Jalang’o in Papa Shirandula which aired on Citizen TV. His name was Jalang’o on the show, which would remain his nickname throughout his public life
Jalas started as a stage-theater actor at Kenya National Theater (KNT) and that’s how he ended up on TV when an opportunity knocked.
His career as a radio presenter started in 2004 when he worked alongside veteran media personality Caroline Mutoko. This is after Nyambane, who was Caroline’s co-host, ventured into government.
In 2012, he transitioned to Radio Maisha, hosting a morning show with Alex Mwakideu. Five years later, he moved to Royal Media’s Hot96 FM in 2017. At Hot 96 he worked for one year before tendering his resignation and moved to Milele FM.
In July 2020, Odiwuor pulled a 360° move, going back to where he started, and joined Kamene Goro for the morning show.
Jalang’o is a serial entrepreneur who has ventured fully into entertainment and showbiz. His company, Arena Media, does advertising and marketing and recruits brand ambassadors for various corporate brands.
His YouTube channel, Jalang’o TV, is an interactive platform that hosts interviews with personalities from various walks of life.
Courting Controversy
In August 2021, local newspapers (Daily Nation & The Standard), implicated Odiwuor as a member of a criminal syndicate involved in money laundering, drug trafficking, and armed robbery, something he vehemently denied.
According to the articles, his wealth is accumulated through legitimate businesses that then receive criminal proceeds as part of sales of the legitimate business and consequently deposited into bank accounts of the legitimate business.
He was also accused of being a silent partner in the questionable gangs and employing his day job as a decoy of criminal activities. According to the articles, the gang engages in violent confrontations, contract killings, mysterious deaths, and enforced kidnappings in subsequent cover-up activities.
Jalang’o Source of Wealth
Jalang’o explained that after landing his first well-paying gig at Kiss 100, he started Arena Media. , The media deals with advertising and marketing. It is a below-the-line and above-the-line marketing firm, with a team of almost 20 people, employed, pensionable, and taxable.
Jalang’o is also a brand ambassador for a wide range of brands. They range from finance, apparel, fast-moving consumer goods, and construction. His influencing side also makes him a fortune.
He has more than 2 million followers on his Instagram and a YouTube channel with more than 300k followers. This allows for the monetization of his huge following by posting ads.
Social Media Millionaire
In a past interview, Jalang’o said that in a good month, he earns as much as Sh3 million for using his social media. He says he rakes up to 10 million views in a good month and puts out four to five interviews in a week.
Apart from the house he lives in, he has apartments he owns that he has converted to Airbnb. The AirBnBs are a big business nowadays in Nairobi, making him a millionaire at every turn of the month.
Jalang’o was explaining that if he was in the “dirty” business, he wouldn’t be breaking his back like he does. In a week, he also does three to four events and club appearances, which pay handsomely.
“For the past 10 to 15 years, I’ve never seen what 7 o’clock looks like unless I’m on holiday or it’s the weekend when I’m not working because I’ve always just known 4 am as my wake up time and we come to Kiss and they pay us so well,” the comedian said.
