The political differences between ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Mathare parliamentary candidate Kevin Kioko alias Bahati have started playing out in public as the latter protests zoning in the constituency.
A war of words broke out between Sifuna and the renowned musician on Monday, June 27, 2022, after the former told the Mathare MP hopeful to shelve his ambitions in favour of ODM candidate Anthony Oluoch.
Sifuna told the press that the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalion had settled on Oluoch to fly their flag in the polls slated for August 9.
Speaking after a joint meeting with delegates from the ruling Jubilee party, on whose ticket Bahati is seeking to contest for the seat, Sifuna urged the candidate to withdraw from the race, to increase the chances of the Azimio coalition trouncing its opponents in the race.
Bahati took issue with the Nairobi senatorial candidate’s remarks, dismissing them as propaganda. He claimed the ODM official had been bribed to lie that he had stepped down.
“Ushalambishwa mita tatu na my losing opponent to lie that I have stepped down and “you” will offer me a job in the AZIMIO government??? Unanipea Kazi Kama Nani..? Kaa mbali na siasa ya Mathare , Fagia kwako ama utashindwa tena kama 2017,” Bahati tweeted.
But in a quick rejoinder, Sifuna maintained that Jubilee had endorsed Oluoch for the seat, dismissing Bahati as a cry baby.
“Ahsante sana wana Jubilee Nairobi for resolving the Mathare question for us. We now have a candidate. Hio kijana ya kulia lia nitachukua apology yake kwa Diana personally,” Sifuna responded.
Ahsante sana wana @JubileePartyK Nairobi for resolving the Mathare question for us. We now have a candidate
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) June 27, 2022
Hio kijana ya kulia lia nitachukua apology yake kwa Diana personaly.#Inawezekana pic.twitter.com/RCQuVw8dfA
Bahati takes offence after Sifuna dragged wife to Nairobi’s mucky politics
But the spat didn’t end there as Bahati took offence following the politician’s move to drag his wife, Diana Marua, into the city’s mucky politics.
“Keep your mouth away from mentioning my wife in your cheap politics. Have some respect for women,” Bahati said.
Yesterday, Sifuna indicated that the Mathare constituency had been zoned as an ODM stronghold under the Azimio coalition arrangement.
“Our colleagues from Jubilee will be presenting their candidates from eight constituencies and those from ODM will present some from eight constituencies,” Sifuna said.
“Zoning was done perfectly even here in Mathare we have agreed that it’s an ODM zone. We only have one candidate in Mathare and that is Anthony Oluoch, this young man called Bahati is my younger brother and we will talk. I will make sure that we find him another position within the Azimio government.”
The latest development comes days after the Azimio council resolved to have weak candidates step down in favour of their stronger counterparts within the coalition that brings together over 20 parties. The resolutions were made during a meeting chaired by presidential candidate Raila Odinga last Friday.
