Smiling from heaven: Jalang’o plans restoration of dad’s neglected gravesite
Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, widely known as Jalang’o, has often shared the poignant narrative of his life, a tale intricately woven with the influence of his father.
Following the festive season, Jalang’o revealed details about his father’s burial ground and his heartfelt commitment to its restoration.
After completing secondary school, Jalang’o’s father, despite financial constraints, made every effort to propel his son toward a brighter future, even if it he could not afford his college fees.
In a candid revelation during a previous interview, Jalang’o recounted:
“One morning, my old man woke me up and gave me two shirts, two trousers and Sh 800. ‘Go be a man. Go to Nairobi and go to college.’ And so I left home. The two shirts and two trousers were all the clothes I had.”
Undeterred by challenges, Jalang’o hustled and eventually secured a role as a radio presenter, marking a turning point in his journey.
“The same day I got a call from Caroline Mutoko to inform me that I had the job at Kiss FM was the same day I received the news of the death of my father. He had left a letter for me. He wanted me to build mum a house and ensure that my siblings completed their studies,” he shared.
This Christmas, Jalang’o visited the resting place of his father and grandmother, expressing disappointment at the overgrown and neglected condition of the gravesite.
Determined to honor his loved ones, he pledged to clear the area and refurbish the graves.
Taking to Instagram, the MP shared videos of the untended land where his father and grandmother lay. He disclosed that the land held sentimental value as it was once his grandfather’s home.
Over time, family members moved away, leaving the area in disrepair.
“Everybody has since moved and built their home in a different location, but this place remains to be a very special place to me. I’ve come to make peace with my old man,” Jalang’o remarked.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the state of the gravesite, he vowed to organise an event for its revitalisation.
“When people move, they forget everything…so I want to put up a very big event here where we’ll re-cement this grave and give my old man plus my grandmother a very good place to continue resting in peace,” he declared.
Jalango shared an image of the grave, he expressed a profound emotional connection to the site.
He wrote, “You can never come to terms with death…so many years passed…people moved from this home… but this is my father’s grave.”
His father passed away before he could witness his success, but Jalang’o is commitment to preserving his memory.