At a Nairobi event on 6 November 2026, gospel musician Kevin Bahati said the late Raila Odinga privately approached him during the 2022 Mathare parliamentary race and offered a job if he withdrew in favour of the ODM candidate.

Bahati, whose full name is Bahati Kioko, said he turned down the offer immediately, noting his financial success as a musician meant he had no need for employment.

He added that despite campaigning for only three weeks in 2022, he secured more than 10,000 votes in Mathare, a result he described as evidence of genuine community support.

Bahati explained that Raila’s interest in the seat stemmed from his ODM candidate, Anthony Oluoch, contesting the same constituency.

Instead of stepping down, Bahati continued his campaign and later announced his intention to run again in the 2027 Mathare election, launching the bid at the same Nairobi event.

He said he has already been on the ground in Mathare for four months and plans to campaign for a full year ahead of the 2027 poll.

Bahati positioned himself as the first candidate born, raised and schooled in Mathare, arguing that previous MPs were outsiders.

His stated priorities for the constituency include youth job creation, better healthcare access and education as a tool for empowerment.

He linked the high crime rate in Mathare to unemployment and political neglect, promising to address these issues if elected.

The event concluded with Bahati introducing his wife, underscoring the personal dimension of his campaign launch.