Musician Kevin Kioko, popularly known as Bahati, is banking on his Mathare upbringing, celebrity status and personal struggles to make a second attempt at parliamentary politics in the 2027 General Election.
The singer, who lost the Mathare parliamentary race to ODM's Anthony Oluoch in 2022 while running on a Jubilee Party ticket, says his ambition is rooted in a personal connection to the constituency where he was born and raised.
Speaking during interviews with KTN, Bahati revisited his difficult childhood, including losing both parents, saying his experiences shaped his determination to succeed and understand the struggles of ordinary residents.
He also recalled walking from Mathare to Standard Group's offices early in his music career, seeking support that eventually helped him record his breakthrough song, “Mama”.
Since launching his music career in 2013 as a gospel artiste, Bahati has built a profile through music, business ventures and social media.
He founded EMB Records in 2015 and later established himself in mainstream entertainment with songs including “Wanani”, “Diana”, “Baby You” and “Adhiambo”.
But as he turns towards politics, the singer insists his celebrity connections should not be mistaken for the foundation of his campaign.
He defended the intimate nature of his recent political launch, saying it was attended by close friends and people who had witnessed his journey from Mathare.
“Those at the launch were my close people, watu wangu wenye wananijua,” he said, suggesting criticism of the event was an attempt by political rivals to tarnish his image.
Bahati's public life has also been closely intertwined with his marriage to content creator and musician Diana Marua.
The couple, who have been together for about a decade, have five children, including three biological children, one from Bahati's previous relationship and an adopted child.
Addressing recurring questions about their wedding, Bahati said he had already undertaken the traditional Ruracio ceremony and was in no hurry to formalise their union through a public wedding.
Their relationship recently became part of a publicity campaign that initially sparked speculation about an upcoming wedding but ultimately served as the announcement platform for his political ambitions.
Bahati defended the strategy, describing it as a business decision designed to generate attention and anticipation.
He also spoke about the challenges facing Kenya's creative industry, attributing the discontinuation of his reality show, The Bahati Empire, on Netflix to the streaming platform's business decisions and low local viewership of Kenyan productions.