The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared gospel artiste Kevin Kioko popularly known as Bahati to vie for the Mathare parliamentary seat.
Bahati was cleared on Sunday, July 10 by IEBC who gazetted his name among other candidates seeking electoral positions.
Restating his candidacy, Bahati took to Twitter where he expressed his joy after IEBC gave him the green light to compete in the August 9 general elections on a Jubilee party ticket.
“It is official that on the 9th of August 2022… I will be on the ballot as the next member of parliament Mathare constituency under the #Jubilee_Azimio ticket!!! Asante Yesu, pokea sifa Mungu. [sic],” Bhati tweeted.
His announcement comes after members of the Azimio la Umoja coalition allegedly asked him to step down in favour of ODM’s candidate Anthony Oluoch who is seeking the same seat.
According to the musician, ODM’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna told him to drop his candidacy adding that he, Bahati, was offered Ksh 50 million to do the same.
Bahati will be facing off ODM’s Anthony Oluoch, Usawa Party’s Moses Gachira, Jacob Karanja (Independent), Reuben Liyala of The Labour Party and James Madafu of ANC.