Jubilee Unveils Singer Bahati as Mathare MP Candidate

The ruling party Jubilee on Friday unveiled gospel singer Kevin Kioko alias Bahati as its Mathare MP candidate.

“Mimi Mtoto Wa Mathare… I am a proud member of the Jubilee Party and the Azimio Movement. I am accepting the calling to vie for this seat,” said the singer at the party’s headquarters in Pangani.

“Our biggest challenge as people from Mathare is that we have never received a leader who was born and raised in Mathare. We have been electing leaders but its time for Mathare to get a son who was born and raised In Mathare and understand the people,” said the singer.

Read: Singer Bahati To Run for Mathare MP Seat

He stated that he has been receiving calls from residents pleading with him to rise to the occasion.

“We have been crying over and over again because of the same issues and you know if you rely on a visitor to lead you, they don’t know the struggles you go through,” Bahati added.

He went on to say that he will make sure that children growing up in Mathare do not go through the same difficulties he did.

Read Also: Retired Teacher John Quindos Looking to Capture Bahati Parliamentary Seat on UDA Ticket

“Its time to vary my dwelling, it’s time to change my background and the place I come from…that’s the reason I’m vying as Member of Parliament for Mathare constituency underneath the Jubilee ticket,” the crooner continued.

He also proclaimed his support for Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), who is running for the presidency under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

The artist lavished adulation on the ODM Party’s leader in a song dubbed “Fire”.

Read Also: Jubilee Removes Kimani Wamatangi as Senate Majority Whip Days After Decamping to UDA

Willy Paul, a fellow artist, announced in late December that he would run for the Mathare seat, which is presently held by MP Anthony Oluoch.

Bahati will face a number of opponents, including ANC candidate James Ongero Madafu and former administration officer Julia Kamwara.

The’mtoto wa mama’ singer has now joined the ranks of other local celebrities, including rapper and musician Jackson Ngechu Makini, better known by his stage name CMB Prezzo, who is running for the Kasarani parliamentary seat.

Read Also: Kimani Wamatangi Dumps Jubilee for UDA, To Contest for Kiambu Governor Seat

Mwanaisha Chidzuga and DNG, who are running for the Matuga Parliamentary seat and the Kenyatta Golf Course Member Of County Assembly position, respectively, are the other aspiring politicians.

Other celebrities are; former radio host Felix Odiwuor, alias Jalang’o, for the Langata Parliamentary seat, trying to topple incumbent MP Nickson Korir, and comedian Mc jesse for the Imenti South parliamentary seat.

Gospel singer Smith Mwatia, environmentalist Anita Soina, and Dickson Ngibuini, better known as DNG, are among those competing for elective seats.