In 2020, Kenyan radio personality Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, made a shocking decision that sent ripples through the media industry.
He walked away from his successful career as a radio presenter at Milele FM, citing a contractual dispute with the management.
However, this move was just the beginning of his journey towards a new chapter in his life – politics.
Here is the story as told by WoK.
The Contractual Dispute
The saga began when Jalang’o refused to accept a pay cut proposed by the management of Milele FM.
At a time when the world was grappling with the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jalang’o stood his ground, believing that he and his radio show were generating significant income for the station.
He questioned the rationale behind the pay cut, especially when the show’s popularity was on the rise
“The management told me everyone was to take a pay cut. I did not understand where that one was coming from.”
Reluctantly, Jalang’o agreed to the pay cut, but matters took a surprising turn when the company asked all employees to sign new contracts.
This development did not sit well with Jalang’o, who had been an integral part of the station’s success. Feeling undervalued and unappreciated, he decided to make a bold move.
The Midnight Decision
On a fateful night, Jalang’o called his co-presenter, Alex Mwakideu, and dropped the bombshell – he was quitting Milele FM.
“Our show was making more money due to advertisements. I agreed to the deduction since they said it was going to affect everyone. Then they asked me to sign a new contract. I called Mwakideu at night and told him that I was not going to report to work the following morning. I quit the job. I was jobless for two hours,” he said.
Revolutionizing Swahili Radio
Jalang’o didn’t take this decision lightly. He reflected on the transformative impact he and his colleagues had on Swahili radio. During their time at Radio Maisha, they had turned their show into the most-listened-to program in Kenya.
“We revolutionized the radio industry and turned our show into the number one most-listened-to program in Kenya when working for Radio Maisha.
I then approached the company to request a salary increase, but they refused, thinking I was joking. One day, I handed in my resignation letter.
They questioned why, stating that one can’t earn more than their boss. After some discussions, I decided to leave. I later joined Hot96, and our show gained immense popularity,” Jalang’o remarked
A New Path: Politics
In 2022, Jalang’o made another groundbreaking decision – he ventured into the world of politics.
