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Mathare 2027? Bahati confirms he’s still a registered voter in his former parliamentary stomping ground
27th May, 2026 03:53 PM
Musician Kevin Kioko, popularly known as Bahati, has set tongues wagging regarding a potential political comeback after confirming that he has maintained his voter status in his former electoral battleground.
Taking to social media on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the ‘Mama’ hitmaker shared his official Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) registration details online.
The calculated move immediately reignited speculation that the artist is planning a second stab at the Mathare parliamentary seat in the upcoming 2027 General Election.
Under current Kenyan electoral frameworks, the IEBC strictly mandates that any individual seeking to vie for a parliamentary seat must be a legally registered voter within that specific constituency.
By publicly displaying his active voter registration status in Mathare constituency, Bahati has legally cleared the first and most critical hurdle required to mount another campaign.
The singer used the confirmation of his status to launch a broader civic sensitization campaign, rallying unregistered Kenyans – particularly the youth – to take advantage of ongoing registration exercises before time runs out.
“Just to let you know, voter registration is still going on in IEBC offices, selected Huduma Centres and the IEBC Customer Experience Centre,” Bahati informed his millions of followers.
“So kama hauko kadi go get it.”
The ghosts of 2022
Should Bahati decide to throw his hat back into the political ring, he will be entering a familiar arena.
The musician famously contested the Mathare Member of Parliament seat during the high-stakes August 2022 General Election under a Jubilee Party ticket.
His debut political campaign was marred by intense drama, including public tears and bitter standoffs within the Azimio la Umoja coalition, which tried and failed to have him step down in favour of a joint candidate.
Despite a highly publicised and well-funded campaign, Bahati ultimately suffered a bruising defeat at the ballot box, finishing a distant third.
He was thoroughly trounced by the incumbent, Anthony Tom Oluoch, who successfully retained the seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.
While Bahati has stop short of officially declaring his candidacy for 2027, the public verification of his IEBC data is a clear indicator that he is keeping his options firmly open.
Mathare has historically proven to be an ODM political zone.
With the next general election looming on the horizon, Bahati’s timely reminder to his fanbase signals that the entertainer may yet have unfinished business with the voters of his childhood neighbourhood.
