The Jubilee Party has selected singer Kelvin Kioko, known as Bahati, as its candidate for the Mathare parliamentary seat, sparking renewed debate over political zoning arrangements and past controversies.
Jubilee party secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni stated the decision aimed to provide opportunities for young candidates, emphasizing Bahati's representation of Kenya's youth. "We are happy to have Bahati as he represents everything positive in this country," Kioni said during the announcement at Jubilee headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi.
Bahati, who previously faced exclusion due to zoning agreements within the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance, expressed confidence in his campaign. "I have a ticket and I will be on the ballot. I can promise you I am the next member of parliament for Mathare," he declared.
The Mathare seat, historically associated with the ODM party, was won by Anthony Oluoch in 2017. A 2016 meeting between Bahati and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House highlighted his political connections, according to archived reports.
The selection follows a 2021 controversy involving personal allegations Bahati addressed publicly. The move underscores tensions over candidate allocation within coalition agreements, with some aspirants alleging exclusion due to zoning rules.
