ELIZABETH NGIGI Lifestyle, Entertainment Journalist

28 June 2022

• Jubilee Party Chairman (Nairobi branch) Gitonga Ndegwa said that Jubilee party had communicated to Bahati and that his campaign on the ruling party had come to an immediate end.

• Bahati had earlier told dismissed calls from ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Public Service CAS Rachel Shebesh to have him step down.

Singer Bahati has been axed from Mathare Mp bid after Jubilee party and Azimio La Umoja Coalition settled on Anthony Aluoch who is vying on an ODM ticket.

Jubilee Party Chairman (Nairobi branch) Gitonga Ndegwa said that the Jubilee party had communicated to Bahati and that his campaign had come to an immediate end.

According to Gitonga, Jubilee, Wiper, and ODM parties had united to rally behind Anthony Oluoch in Mathare as one way of solidifying Azimio la Umoja's victory in the constituency.

"I am the chairman Jubilee party Nairobi county. We have come to an agreement to endorse Antony Oluoch. We have explained this to Bahati and he knows that. As Jubilee party we have no candidate in Mathare constituency," Ndegwa said.

"From now his campaigns are not there anymore. We have united our delegates from wiper, jubilee and ODM and come to confirmation of endorsing Antony Oluoch."

Gitonga's statement followed an earlier statement by ODM party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna which had reported that Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition party had settled on the incumbent, ODM's Anthony Oluoch, to fly their flag in the August 9 polls.

While reacting to Gitonga's statement, Sifuna lauded President Uhuru's party for bringing the matter to an end.

He said the Azimio team will now concentrate on campaigning for one candidate. Sifuna then made fun of Bahati with his family.

"Ahsante sana wana @JubileePartyK 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 chided Bahati.

Bahati had earlier told dismissed calls from ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Public Service CAS Rachel Shebesh to have him step down.

Bahati said that the Azimio Coalition had settled on having the most popular candidate as the flag bearer, saying that he outdid his opponent Anthony Oluoch.

"I was called for a meeting being chaired by Hon Gumo, Shebesh, and many others. They made it clear that Bahati is leading both in the polls and on the ground. They made it clear that the incumbent is not doing well on ground and has resisted stepping down."