Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o has revealed that his pay cheque while working in the media was fatter than the one he gets for his current role as an MP.
In an interview with NTV on Monday, Jalang’o said most of his salary is channeled for contributions to the community for a cause.
While working in the media, he explained, the money he made belonged to him but as a leader, the money he is currently making goes to serving Kenyans by contributing to society.
“If you want to join Parliament to make money, you will suffer. Leadership does not need someone who is greedy. When I was a journalist, I was being paid more than now as an MP.”
The current monthly basic salary of an MP in Kenya is Sh710,000 as set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Jalang’o said the difference between being a journalist and an MP is that as the former, Kenyans expect you to help air their grievances via media channels but as a leader, they expect you to solve them.
He said he is still serving Kenyans but the only difference is that his service is limited to his constituents.
Jalang’o ran on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party ticket against his predecessor Nixon Korir of UDA.
Prior to his political ambitions, he was a radio presenter, comedian, actor, events master of ceremonies (MC), talk show host and philanthropist.
Jalang’o began his career as a radio presenter in 2004 at Kiss 100. He transitioned to Radio Maisha in 2012 and later moved to Hot 96 FM in 2017 till 2018 when he moved to Milele FM.
In July 2020, Jalang’o went back to where he began his radio career as a morning presenter at Kiss 100 where he was a co-host to Kamene Goro.