When musician-turned politician Kevin Kioko alias Bahati tossed himself into the murky waters of politics, probably he thought he could convert his huge online following into votes.
With 222,000 followers on Twitter, 796.000 likes on Facebook, and 3.2 million followers on Instagram, it is justified for him to believe he would have it easy in politics
That is why when he was asked to drop his parliamentary bid in favour of an ODM candidate, he could not take it and instead proceeded to the last day.
In the just announced results by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Bahati emerged last in the Mathare parliamentary race.
ODM candidate Anthony Oluoch, whom bahati refused to drop his bid for, retained the seat after polling 28,098 votes.
Billian Ojiwa of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) a party heavily linked to Deputy President William Ruto emerged second after garnering 16, 912.
The Machozi hitmaker came a distant third after scooping a paltry 8,166 votes on a Jubilee Party ticket.
In a statement posted on his official social media pages, Bahata alleged massive irregularities in the manner in which the electoral agency handled the tallying process.
Bahati claimed that at least 21 ballot boxes in the Mathare constituency had been tampered with.
“Dear IEBC, we Need Answers!!! Everything is at Stand Still at The St. Teresa’s Tallying Centre and we can sense rigging plans….” Bahati said.
Bahati’s defeat comes just days after the Jubilee party candidate declined Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party flag bearer Raila Odinga’s plea to drop out of the Mathare parliamentary race.
The former Prime Minister had asked Singer Bahati to shelve his parliamentary bid in favor of incumbent Antony Oluoch and promised to incorporate him if he will form the next government.
“Here in Mathare, as Baba (Raila Odinga) I know I have two children of the same race. Do you want me to advise you as Baba? This is what I want…I have Oluoch and Bahati, this is what I decide…Bahati is my child I will give him a job in government,” Raila said.
