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Kevin Bahati. [Courtesy]

Bahati Forced Out of Azimio Rally After Declining to Bow Out of Mathare MP Race

Singer Kevin “Bahati” Kioko was ejected from an Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance rally in Nairobi on Monday.

Before he could address his supporters, Bahati—who was present at the rally attended by prominent Nairobi leaders of the Azimio coalition—was ejected from the gathering.

The rally was being held in his Mathare Constituency, where he is running for office as a Jubilee party representative.

In a video seen by this writer, some Azimio leaders are seen motioning for him to step down from a makeshift dais.

Read: Bahati Allegedly Turned Down Sh50 Million Offer To Drop Mathare MP Bid

Bahati was pushed down the vehicle by leaders who appeared to want him out. As his security detail attempts to step in, Bahati is seen getting roughed up by a bunch of people.

The incident comes a week after an acrimonious argument between Bahati and ODM secretary general, Edwin Sifuna.

Azimio settled for the incumbent Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch to to fly the coalition party flag. The announcement was made by Sifuna after a joint ODM and Jubilee delegates meeting.

“Zoning was done perfectly even here in Mathare we have agreed that it’s an ODM zone. We only have one candidate in Mathare and that is Oluoch, this young man called Bahati is my younger brother and we will talk. I will make sure that we find him another position within the Azimio government,” Sifuna said.

Read Also: Bahati Out of Mathare Parliamentary Race As Azimio Settles For MP Oluoch

But the singer has since insisted that he will not step aside as polls show that he is the favourite to bag the Parliamentary seat.

In an interview with Radio Citizen on Wednesday, Bahati said that his rivals had been pressuring him to step aside.

“They have offered me millions, up to Sh50 million. They know that when they get to the office they will regain the money,” he said.

He also revealed that he was offered a State appointment if he stepped down in favour of the incumbent.

Read Also: Jubilee Finally Nominates Singer Bahati for Mathare MP

“But I am not looking for a job, I am earning a living from my music,” he said.

Bahati claimed his opponents had come up with alternative plans to remove him since he could not be compromised. He mentioned Oluoch as among those who asked for his support.

“He told me to do a campaign song for him and support him. They want to use a person from Mathare to get to the people,” added the hitmaker.

Cracks have emerged within the coalition party over plans to zone certain areas with some aspirants rejecting the plan.

Jubilee’s Makadara candidate Mark Ndung’u, who has sworn not to resign in favor of Makadara MP George Aladwa, is one of those who rejected the plan.

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