Bahati Defies Raila's Request To Quit Parliamentary Race

Raila was popularising the Azimio candidates in Nairobi and selling his manifesto to the electorate...

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jul 18, 2022 - 08:23 Updated: Jul 18, 2022 - 08:24
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Bahati Defies Raila's Request To Quit Parliamentary Race
Side by side image of Bahati and Raila Odinga. /VIRALTEAKE

Gospel musician Kevin Kioko, popularly known as Bahati, has remained firm on his ambitions to clinch the Mathare parliamentary seat, despite former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga advising him to back away from the race.

In a series of rallies in Nairobi County on Sunday, July 17, the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate advised Bahati to step aside and support the election of ODM’s Anthony Oluoch to the Mathare seat.

Raila was popularising the Azimio candidates in Nairobi and selling his manifesto to the electorate, urging the residents to vote for the candidates.

Raila Odinga and Polycarp Igathe in Nairobi County. /FACEBOOK

While unveiling the Azimio candidates in most constituencies, he appeared to have dropped those considered 'weak'.

"Here in Mathare, as Baba I know I have two children in the same race. Do you want me to advise you as Baba? This is what I want...I have Oluoch and Bahati, this is what I decide… I will hold Bahati’s hand,” he said.

While in Mathare, Raila promised to give the Size Yangu hitmaker a job within his government should the Azimio coalition be elected into power during the August 9 elections.

“Bahati is my child, I will give him a job in government. Ruaraka MP is TJ Kajwang while Mathare MP is Oluoch,” he promised.

However, Bahati seemed annoyed by the announcement and insisted that he would vie for the seat in the polls.

"Cleared by IEBC and my party Jubilee... Blessed by God and Mathare people who have decided that the next MP is Bahati Kioko. I, Bahati Kioko, will be on the ballot this August 9," he wrote.

Bahati has been fighting with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna for the past month which began when Sifuna claimed that the musician cum politician had dropped out of the race, which Bahati denied. He blamed Sifuna for being the main reason he was embarrassed in public at an Azimio rally in Nairobi.

He noted that it was against the people's rights to prevent him from speaking to them. He wondered why a section of the Azimio leaders present was annoyed by his actions.

"When Sifuna and his losing friend saw the incoming Mathare MP Bahati Kioko has arrived and the crowd was demanding to hear me speak, they decided to end the meeting pre-maturely against the will of the people. But God never sleeps.

"Even if you frustrate me, the people of Mathare have decided that they will vote for its son. But why are all these old people annoyed by a young man?" he posed.