Fans and guests who turned up at Argyle Grand Hotel on Friday, November 6, expecting to witness gospel singer Bahati finally marry his long-time partner Diana Marua were in for a shock.
Instead of the highly anticipated wedding ceremony, they witnessed an unexpected political announcement.
Did Bahati and Diana dupe Kenyans?
Instead of a wedding ceremony, they watched him walk up to a clear acrylic podium bathed in blue lighting, with a massive screen behind him displaying the words “MP MATHARE 2027” alongside his portrait.
Bahati, born Bahati Kioko, used the moment to officially declare his intention to contest the Mathare parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
He did not shy away from admitting that the entire wedding narrative had been a calculated publicity move designed to generate maximum attention around the announcement.
”I want to announce, and I want to make it official. I, Bahati Kioko, will be vying as the next Member of Parliament, Mathare Constituency,” he told guests and viewers following the livestream.
The hype had been building since October 7, 2026, when Bahati and Diana announced plans to formalise their 10-year relationship through an event they called The Bahatis’ Big Day.
Attendance was capped at 100 guests, with each invitation priced at KSh 1 million, creating the impression of a KSh 100 million wedding.
The strategy drew significant interest from prominent figures. Beauty entrepreneur Phoina Tosha reportedly paid KSh 2 million for two slots, while Webuye East MP aspirant Gipson Mise was also among those who secured invitations.
The exclusive pricing, it appears, served a dual purpose: generating publicity while quietly fundraising for Bahati’s political campaign.
Why Bahati is gunning for Mathare
Bahati was clear about his motivation for targeting the Mathare seat specifically.
He grew up in the constituency and believes that background gives him a unique understanding of its residents’ struggles, something he argued previous leaders have lacked.
”I was born and raised in Mathare. We have never had a leader born and raised in Mathare. It’s time to have a leader from Mathare who understands issues affecting them. Mgeni hajui kama mnakulanga strungi na ugali,” he said, drawing on the Swahili proverb to underscore his point about insider knowledge versus outsider assumptions.
The 2027 Mathare seat is currently held by MP Anthony Oluoch, and Bahati’s entry into the race is set to make it one of the more closely watched contests in the next General Election cycle.
