Popular Kenyan singer Kevin Kioko better known as Bahati is allegedly being asked to recall his Nominations certificate to the sitting MP of Mathare.
Bahati received the go-ahead to fly the Jubilee party ticket for Mathare constituency over the weekend.
Speaking in a press Conference on Monday, 25th April, a teary Bahati said that after he was handed over the MP nominations Certificate, he allegedly received calls from ODM asking him to recall his certificate.
“I received a call and I was called for a meeting and want to be as open as possible. That am being told that I need to recall the certificate and step down for the sitting MP since he(MP) feels threatened and he feels like if I am in the ballot box, the seat will not go back to ODM which I have said no,” he said.
Bahati added that he is running for the seat since the people in Mathare has asked him to do it.
“Mathare people have suffered and I did not join politics since I wanted a job, I already had a job but someone who came from there understands them,” he said.
He went ahead to ask the Jubilee Party leader President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga to intervene.
“I have called this Press conference to speak to my President and talk to the ODM leader Amollo Odinga. I am also in Azimio and this certificate here is not only for Bahati but it represents many other youths. It is a sign of hope. Please give the youths of this country a chance.
Bahati added that by stepping down, he will have betrayed Mathare people who asked him to vie for the seat.
“For the last 24 hours has been the toughest time of my life. I have been thinking of how I will say this since I don’t want to look as if I am betraying my fellow youths. Not to look as if am betraying the people of Mathare that have entrusted me with this opportunity to serve them. they pushed for my nominations.”
Bahati expressed that it would be unfair to give away the nominations since he went through the nominations and followed the process as per the IEBC regulations and Jubilee awarded him the nomination after he won.
Bahati added that he will be on the ballot box in August and he strongly believes he will serve the people the right way.
“I am not returning and I am not recalling my certificate. For this one, I am not stepping down for someone who have not helped my people, someone who does not understand the problems of Mathare people.