Gospel singer Bahati has fired back at former radio presenter turned Langata MP Jalang’o, dismissing claims that he was using the politician’s name to gain attention online.
The row began when Bahati appeared on Oga Obinna’s show and described Jalang’o as a let-down to Kenya’s creative industry, taking aim at how the former entertainer had conducted himself since winning his parliamentary seat.
The comments did not sit well with Jalang’o, who went public with a warning, telling Bahati to stop riding on his name for clout.
Bahati questions Jalang’o’s popularity
Bahati, however, was not done. Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha’s Maisha Concert Friday segment, he turned the tables on the MP with a pointed question: why would anyone use an unpopular name to market themselves?
“You only use a name that is popular,” Bahati said during the Radio Maisha interview, suggesting that chasing clout through Jalang’o would make no sense given his current standing.
He went further, describing the Langata MP as “highly unpopular,” insisting the claim was plain to see.
The on-screen caption during the clip summed up his position bluntly:
“Bahati: Jalang’o is unpopular, siwezi tumia jina yake kujimarket.”
A simmering rivalry goes public
The back-and-forth between the two has drawn attention partly because of how visible both men once were in Kenyan entertainment.
Jalang’o built a loyal following over years in radio and television before transitioning into politics, while Bahati has remained active in the music space and carved out a public profile through his family life and reality TV appearances.
Bahati’s core argument is that Jalang’o’s shift into politics has cost him the cultural relevance he once commanded, making it pointless for anyone in entertainment to associate with him for visibility.
It is a dig that cuts at both Jalang’o’s post-election image and his influence within the creative community.
How much did Bahati raise at his event?
Bahati defended his heavily publicised “Big Day” event, clarifying that he never explicitly claimed it was a wedding, but rather used the hype as an artistic marketing strategy to capture national attention.
He disclosed that the event successfully raised roughly KSh 10 million, which was directed toward his “Bahati Cares” corporate social responsibility initiative supporting families across the country.
Addressing backlash from attendees who paid hefty entry fees only to find out it was a launch for his 2027 Mathare parliamentary bid, Bahati remained unapologetic about using the suspense to outmanoeuvre his political competitors.
