This archive report was first published on 27 December 2021.
December 27, 2021, marked a significant day in the life of Kenyan politics as musician Willy Paul announced his bid to vie for the Mathare Member of Parliament (MP) seat in the 2022 General Elections.
Willy Paul, whose real name is Wilson Abubakar Saldido, took to Instagram to share a poster of himself with a caption that read, 'Are you ready Mathare? Let's bring that change.'
However, this move comes as a surprise to many, considering Willy Paul's earlier statement that entertainers who join politics are failures and oppressors who seek to maltreat those who are below them.
‘Msanii anaingia politics ni failure. Anajua hawezi survive kwa industry so anataka aingie pale anyanyase watu. I am not a failure. I cannot join politics,' Willy Paul had stated in an interview with SPM Buzz.
Willy Paul's announcement has sparked a mix of reactions from his fans, with some congratulating him on his decision while others criticized him for his change of heart.
He will be seeking to unseat the current Mathare MP, lawyer Anthony Tom Oluoch, of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), but it remains to be seen which political party will sponsor his candidature.
