Kenyan musician Kelvin Kioko Bahati has officially ditched the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition and joined President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) side.
This follows an unsuccessful bid to win the Mathare Constituency seat in the August 2022 elections.
Bahati ran for the parliamentary seat on a Jubilee ticket but was defeated by Anthony Oluoch of the ODM.
Following his defection, the musician was welcomed at the UDA headquarters by party secretary general Cleophas Malala.
He was accompanied by his wife Diana Marua, comedian Jasper Muthomi, also known as MC Jessy, Roy Smith Mwatia (Rufftone), KRG The Don, and David Kilonzo, also known as DK Kwenye Beat.
“Mtu asiwahi sema mimi nilikua wa Azimio, mimi ni mtu UDA damu (Let no one say that I was in Azimio, no, I’m a strong UDA member),” Bahati said.
He said that he cried several times while in Azimio, a move that forced him to look for another party that will pay attention to him.
Also, he expressed confidence that in the next election, which is in 2027, UDA will win the Mathare seat.
“Kwa mara ya kwanza, mimi najua UDA italeta mbunge kutoka Mathare.”
In the run-up to the last election, Bahati was embroiled in Azimio wranglings after refusing to step down and rally behind the ODM candidate in the spirit of zonings, which were intended to ensure the coalition won more seats.
He even once famously walked out on Azimio leader Raila Odinga at a rally after he was compelled to step down and promised a job in government.
Speaking at the UDA office, the artiste expressed his delight at joining President William Ruto’s party, which he said had faith in young people.
Mr Malala welcomed him and stated that the current regime will recognise artists, comedians, and other talents.
He said that through the launch of Talenta Hela, the President made a deliberate move to mainstream talent into a money-making endeavor.
“UDA has its doors open to Kenyan youths from all walks of life, and pledges to walk its talk on matters of youth empowerment in the country,” SG, Malalah opined.
In the same vein, it was agreed that the party, in conjunction with the artistes roll out a nationwide song composition fête for the UDA ANTHEM where the winner is slated to walk to the bank smiling.
In his remarks, MC Jessy said that having more artists join UDA is a move to actualize the dream of having the dominating political arena.
“We want to make sure that there will be no artists at the end of President William Ruto’s tenure who will be asking for contributions online,” MC Jessy said.
