Nairobi County Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has revealed that the Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, alias Jalang'o, has been fined millions over his remarks about eavesdropping on a secret witches' meeting in Kisii.
In a statement on Monday, Mosiria acknowledged Jalang'o's comments as a joke but asserted that he had angered people from the Kisii community, and he needs to pay reparations to appease the region.
Mosiria further noted that the MP needed to meet with the elders from the community with 1,000 cows, 2,000 goats, 3,000 male sheep and 1,000 pots of busaa to facilitate the discussions.
Approximating the cost of each cow at Ksh40,000, each goat at Ksh10,000, and each sheep at Ksh15,000, the animals alone could cost him about Ksh105 million.
According to him, these animals all had to be slaughtered as a sacrifice for forgiveness, and he must be accompanied by the Luo Council of Elders to the meeting.
"We will then meet at Manga Hills, where, as elders, we shall deliberate on these matters. If you meet these requirements, you will be forgiven. Meanwhile, the lighting is working well, Kudos MP Japho," Mosiria stated.
In his statement, the vocal Nairobi County official also took the time to school Jalang'o on some of the Kisii practices, including not publicising events
"If you saw witches meeting in secrecy, you should have kept it to yourself. Among the Abagusii, we take it seriously when people speak publicly about matters done in secrecy. For the record, we are not witches; such kinds of meetings do not exist in our homeland, Gusii," Mosiria stated.
"What is done in secrecy should remain a secret, and what is witnessed in secrecy should be kept confidential. Speaking about it is where one goes wrong. We deserve a little respect, just a little."
While speaking during a fundraising event in Kitutu Chache North constituency, Jalang'o chose to lean into a popular Kisii stereotype of widespread witchcraft while lauding the area MP, Japhet Nyakundi, for his achievements.
"I slept at Marani Simba Lodge, and while there, I stumbled onto a meeting of about 12 people and decided to eavesdrop. I then found out that they were witchdoctors," he stated.
"They were saying how Japho (MP Japhet Nyakundi) has affected their work—the ones that run a night— because Japho had decided to bring electricity everywhere. Now their night-running activities have been halted because some of those street lights are motion-detected."
Following widespread uproar, Jalang'o took to social media to apologise, stating, "My heart is heavy seeing my words misquoted. I hold deep love and respect for the Kisii community — they are my family, my friends, and my people. I would never insult them. Please watch the full clip. Let’s stand for truth, not division."
