NAIROBI – Singer Kelvin Bahati has declined the plea by the Azimio la Umoja presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga to quit the Mathare parliamentary race.
The ODM leader had offered the singer a job opportunity in his government if Azimio la Umoja secures victory in the August 9 General Election.
In a statement on his social media page on Sunday, July 17, Bahati insisted he would be on the ballot saying Mathare residents have made up their mind about him being their next MP.
“Cleared by IEBC and My Party Jubilee… Blessed by GOD Na Watu wa Mathare Wameamua next MP ni Bahati Kioko,” Bahati said in a Twitter post.
During a campaign trail, the former premier endorsed the incumbent MP, Anthony Aluoch as the Azimio representative in the Mathare race. “Hapa Mathare, kama Baba nina wanangu wawili katika kinyang’anyiro. Mnataka niwashauri kama Baba? Hili ndilo ninalotaka… Nina Oluoch na Bahati, hili ndilo ninaloamua… Nitashika mkono wa Bahati. (Here in Mathare, as Baba I know I have two children in the same race. Do you want me to advice you as Baba? This is what I want…I have Oluoch and Bahati, and this is what I have decided… I will hold Bahati’s hand), Bahati is my child; I will give him a job in government. Ruaraka MP is TJ Kajwang while Mathare MP is Oluoch,” Raila said.
Bahati, seated on Raila Odinga’s campaign vehicle, seemed caught off guard by the ODM leaders’ announcement. The singer waved to the crowd indicating he was not in agreement with Raila Odinga’s decision, before hurriedly leaving the rally.
Bahati, the Jubilee party, has been fighting for survival after a report of Azimio zoning out Nairobi County emerged. As TUKO.co.ke had earlier reported, Bahati was expected to shelve his parliamentary ambition in support of Oluoch, who was selected during a joint meeting of ODM and Jubilee delegates. On Monday, June 27, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna said Bahati would not leave the Mathare race empty-handed. He will get a plum job if Azimio wins the August 9 elections.
