Bahati to vie for Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027

Kenyan artist Kevin Kioko, better known as Bahati, has declared his intention to run for governor in the upcoming elections.

During a performance at Zetech University, he promised students that he will be returning to their school to get his degree as he prepares for the elections.

The ‘Adhiambo’ hitmaker, on the other hand, has not specifically stated which county he plans to run for governor in, but it is widely assumed that the young singer is planning to compete against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja in 2027.

“Nilianguka MP lakini juu na simama governor nakuja hapa kufanya degree! (I failed to clinch the MP seat that I was vying for but now that I’m vying as a governor, I will come here to get my degree) declared the father of five.

“Mnataka nikuje Zetech? Wangapi mnataka nikuje Zetech?” (Do you guys want me to come to Zetech? How many here want me to join the university) proudly asked the performer as he proceeded to excitedly start singing and enthrall the audience.

Bahati’s political career went under just as quickly as it sprouted.

The musician wanted to vied for the Mathare MP seat at the 2022 August polls on a Jubilee ticket but lost the contest.

He came a distant third behind incumbent MP Anthony Oluoch of ODM and UDA’s Billian Ojiwa in the hotly contested race.

The election was marred with claims of favouritism in the Azimio camp with Bahati sobbing at a press conference that he had been denied the Jubilee ticket in favour of ODM’s Oluoch.

Despite the obstacles, Bahati persisted and went all the way to the ballot and emerged third with 8,166 votes behind Oluoch who retained the seat by attaining 28,098 votes. Ojiwa got 16,912 votes.

Bahati renounced the Jubilee party after the August elections and joined President William Ruto’s UDA.

He expressed his regret to the President and said he understood why he was disappointed in him.