Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has cautioned musician Kevin Bahati against using other politicians’ names to generate publicity as he prepares to contest the Mathare parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Jalang’o challenged the singer to concentrate on building his political campaign instead of repeatedly invoking the names of leaders who have previously served in Parliament.
The legislator argued that elective politics required commitment to public service and an understanding of the responsibilities that came with representing constituents, rather than relying on media attention to build popularity.
“Bahati tried his hands on politics, and the one thing I will tell him is do not use other people’s names for your clout chasing; you do not know what it takes for somebody to be elected a leader. Do your interviews, and clout chase your ways,” Jalang’o said.
He further dismissed the idea of treating politics like the entertainment industry, insisting that elected leaders had a responsibility to deliver results to the people who voted for them.
“Politics is not about clout chasing; it is about serious work being done,” he stated.
The Lang’ata MP also invited Bahati to visit his constituency and assess the development work he said he had undertaken since entering Parliament.
Jalang’o maintained that political leadership involved making decisions that directly affected people’s lives, adding that residents depended on their elected representatives to address their needs.
“Come here to Lang’ata and see the work we have been able to do. People of Lang’ata are very happy about the work we have been able to do, so when he thinks he can come into politics to clout chase, these are people’s lives. These are people who depend on you to deliver,” he said.
He argued that Bahati needed to understand the difference between pursuing popularity as a musician and seeking an elective position where voters expected tangible results.
Jalang’o nevertheless welcomed the singer into the political arena, noting that his declaration to contest Mathare meant he would now face the same expectations as other political aspirants.
“But I want to tell him, ‘Welcome.’ From now, it is no longer just Bahati; it is Bahati, an aspirant running his campaign just like me. So atafute yake, awachane na yetu,” he added.
Jalang’o’s remarks followed Bahati’s criticism of his parliamentary record and that of former Starehe MP Charles Njagua, popularly known as Jaguar.
Speaking during an interview on the Obinna Show, Bahati questioned why the two former entertainers-turned-politicians did not introduce legislation to protect the interests of Kenyan musicians during their time in Parliament.
The singer argued that their performance had contributed to public scepticism about entertainers seeking elective positions, with voters questioning whether celebrities could translate their popularity into meaningful representation.
“Jalas and Jaguar were in parliament, and they are the reason I am being shown videos of artists who went to Parliament but failed to support the industry,” Bahati said.
He particularly criticised what he described as inadequate support for local music, arguing that Kenyan radio stations gave foreign productions more attention than homegrown musicians.
Bahati proposed legislation requiring local media stations to dedicate between 70 and 80 per cent of their music programming to Kenyan productions.
“What was so hard for Jalang’o or Jaguar to do that in Parliament? Just a bill to say if we want to create other musicians, we must say a local station will have no option but to play 70 per cent local and that is how an unknown artist in Kisumu will get rotation and will be big because of enough airplay,” he stated.
The musician argued that increased local music rotation would create opportunities for upcoming performers outside Nairobi who struggle to attract national recognition.
He also extended his criticism to the film industry, claiming that Kenyan actors faced similar challenges because local television stations gave foreign productions considerable airtime.
