Lang’ata Member of Parliament Felix “Jalang’o” Odiwuor has ignited a firestorm of criticism after a controversial social media post mocking Zambia’s infrastructure during his visit to the country.
The MP’s remarks, which appeared to belittle Zambia in comparison to Kenya, have drawn widespread condemnation from both Kenyans and Africans across the continent.
During his tour of Zambia, Jalang’o shared a photo on his X account, standing beside a lion sculpture with a caption that seemed to deride Zambia’s infrastructure.
“Traveling out of Kenya will make you appreciate Kenya more… We might not be where we want to be but we are really ahead in the region. Zambia…Maina let me tell you!” he wrote, suggesting that Kenyans should appreciate their country’s comparative progress.
The post quickly sparked outrage, with thousands of responses from users expressing their dismay at Jalang’o’s remarks.
One user, Sholla Ard from Kenya, highlighted the negative impact of such attitudes, drawing a parallel with Kenya’s neighboring country.
“This was the same thinking 10 years ago when Tanzania was miles behind Kenya. The shilling was 100, their economy was far behind, and they did not know English. But look at Kenya and Tanzania now. The gap has been reduced. Why? Because we have leaders like Jalang’o,” Ard wrote, emphasizing that such condescending views are counterproductive and hinder regional cooperation and growth.
Another user pointed out the shortsightedness of Kenyan politicians. “The problem with politicians is comparing Kenya with economic dwarfs such as Malawi, Burundi, Zambia, etc. During independence, the Asian Tigers—South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia—were on par with Kenya. How did these countries overtake Kenya in terms of development?”
This comment highlights the frustration with the tendency to benchmark Kenya against less developed nations rather than striving to reach the standards set by more advanced countries.
The sentiment was echoed by another commentator who criticized the double standards of Kenyan leadership.
“We compare ourselves with the best when it comes to remunerations, traveling jets, setting standards for leaders in Kenya. When it comes to citizenry and things that benefit them like infrastructure, healthcare, welfare, and wellbeing, we compare ourselves with the bad and worse,” the user remarked, underscoring the disparity in priorities between the privileges of politicians and the needs of ordinary citizens.
“It’s shocking that someone in his position would travel to another country just to mock them. This is not the leadership we need,” another user commented. Others called on Jalang’o to reflect on Kenya’s own challenges before criticizing others, urging him to show humility and respect.
