Jalang'o, Langata Member of Parliament (MP) Phelix Odiwuor, is facing criticism for his decision to pay bus fares for his constituents, despite supporting the recent increase in fuel prices. The criticism was voiced by Pauline Njoroge, a digital strategist aligned with the Jubilee Party, who expressed her disapproval after a video went viral showing Jalang'o paying bus fares for his constituents heading to town.
Njoroge raised concerns about Jalang'o's recent support for the Finance Bill, which resulted in higher petrol prices and contributed to the high cost of living in Kenya. In a tweet directed at Jalang'o, Njoroge highlighted the irony of his actions and questioned the sustainability of his philanthropy towards his constituents.
Njoroge pointed out that the MP had voted in favor of increasing fuel prices to Ksh 195.53 in parliament, thereby affecting the cost of public transportation. She questioned how Jalang'o would be able to finance daily fare payments for his constituents and how many people in the entire Lang'ata constituency he could assist on a regular basis.
"You vote in favor of increasing fuel prices to Ksh 195.53, which affects fare prices. And then you go from one matatu stage to another, paying fares for people. How long can you sustain this, and how many people in the entire Lang'ata constituency can you cater to every day? This is madness!" Njoroge tweeted.
Njoroge's criticism comes in the midst of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) revising fuel prices, resulting in a significant increase. With a 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) taking effect, EPRA announced a rise in petrol prices by 13.49 Kenyan shillings, diesel by 12.39 shillings, and kerosene by 11.96 shillings in Nairobi. This increase in fuel prices has sparked widespread disapproval among Kenyans, who have taken to social media to express their anger and frustration.
Jalang'o has not responded to Njoroge's criticism at this time.
It is worth mentioning that in September 2022, Jalang'o showed compassion and support for his constituents when he extended a helping hand to the residents of Silanga after a devastating fire incident in the Lang'ata constituency. The MP facilitated the affected individuals by providing construction materials and offering some form of compensation to help them recover from their losses.
