Editor's Review

Bahati confirmed that he would be on the ballot in the August polls.

The Jubilee party has handed musician Kelvin Kioko, popularly known as Bahati, the Mathare parliamentary ticket.

At a press briefing on Friday, May 13, the musician-turned-politician flaunted his ticket and confirmed that he would be on the ballot.

The ticket was handed to him by the Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni who said that the youth had an equal opportunity in the party.

"I have my ticket. I know there have been a lot of issues but just to confirm that I have my ticket and I'm on the ballot. I can promise that I'm the next MP for Mathare," Bahati stated.

{Bahati at a press conference. IMAGE: COURTESY}

He thanked the ruling party for the opportunity to run for the seat and further expressed his gratitude to President Uhuru Kenyatta for giving the youth an opportunity to be leaders.

Bahati had previously been denied the ticket due to zoning as ODM was fielding a candidate in the area. 

The singer, protested the move by Jubilee, terming it a blow to the youths who should be allowed to take part in elective politics.

"Give the youth of this country a chance. Give the people of Mathare a chance to elect the leaders they have always wanted," a teary Bahati said.

But on Friday, May 13, he said he was happy and would not cry, thanking ODM leader Raila Odinga for an opportunity to allow a youth to run for the seat.

He promised that the Mathare MP seat would go to the Azimio coalition. Bahati will be seeking to unseat incumbent Anthony Oluoch.