Bahati Defends Ksh1M ‘Wedding’ Event As He Launches 2027 Parliamentary Bid

Musician Bahati (Kevin Kioko) has addressed the intense public backlash over his exclusive Ksh 1 million-per-ticket black-tie event, where attendees expecting a lavish wedding renewal with his wife Diana Marua instead witnessed his official entry into the 2027 Mathare parliamentary race.

Speaking during a live broadcast interview on Monday, November 9, 2026, the artist rejected accusations of misleading the public, asserting that the gathering was a carefully curated launch rather than a publicity stunt.

“I had invited 100 people only. Over 40 were from Mathare,” Bahati stated, dismissing claims that the guest list was dominated by internet personalities chasing trends.

Defending the Venue Choice

Addressing critics who questioned why a event focused on Mathare was hosted at the high-end Argyle Grand Hotel rather than within the informal settlement, Bahati challenged his detractors to offer practical alternatives:

“Okay, nipe hoteli moja Mathare ningefanya event,” he posed, emphasizing that major political declarations do not always require open-air constituency rallies.

Bahati clarified that the gathering was designed as a private, high-profile strategic launch rather than a public political rally, adding that those raising objections were largely individuals who did not attend and misunderstood the setup.

Eyes on the 2027 Ballot

The declaration officially puts an end to speculation surrounding the couple’s recent teasers, shifting focus to Bahati’s second attempt at political office. Having grown up in Mathare before embarking on his music career, the artist reiterated that his campaign aims to deliver authentic representation for his childhood home in the 2027 General Election.