Bahati announces bid for Mathare parliamentary seat

Kenyan musician Bahati, born Kevin Kioko, has officially announced his intention to contest the Mathare Member of Parliament seat in the 2027 General Election. The announcement took place on November 6 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi during an event originally promoted as a wedding celebration for Bahati and his partner, Diana Marua.

The event, which reportedly featured invitations priced at Sh 1 million for a limited guest list, drew criticism from some attendees. Social media personality Kenyan Prince expressed disappointment, alleging that guests were misled into attending a wedding only to witness a political launch.

In contrast, comedian Oga Obinna pledged Ksh 200,000 to support the campaign, praising Bahati for beginning his political journey with a prayer. Bahati previously ran for the same seat in 2022 under the Jubilee Party ticket, finishing third with 8,166 votes.