Kenyan celebrities set to be on the ballot in August 2017

It seems last year’s Tanzania general election, when renowned  hip-hop artiste Profesa Jay trended for several days after winning the Mikumi parliamentary seat in his first attempt, must have encouraged several of his counterparts in Kenya to ditch their careers and give politics a try too.

With nominations over for the various political parties, political temperatures have been rising in the run-up to the August general election. Adjustments and realignments are already on course, and as usual not without drama.

But this time round, the campaigns for the elections have been spiced up by youthful  celebrity artistes who have ditched showbiz to pursue their political ambitions, all oozing with confidence of clinching the seats they are after. Here is the list.

JAGUAR (MP, Starehe)

On Thursday, Charles Njagua Kanyi, alias Jaguar, was handed a Jubilee nomination certificate to vie for the Starehe parliamentary seat after the party’s appeals tribunal nullified current MP Maina Kamanda’s win.

This followed days of literally camping outside the Jubilee headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi, with his supporters with claims that the Starehe elections were unfair. Initially, the incumbent had been announced as the winner, but Jaguar contested the results, claiming there had been rigging.

Jaguar has had a successful musical career spanning a decade, during which he produced major hits including “Kigeugeu” and “One Centimeter”, among others, that made him famous.

Until his entry into politics, Jaguar had served as a director of the anti-drug abuse agency Nacada, before resigning earlier this year. On the ballot in August, he will be battling it out with another youthful candidates, shrewd businessman Steve Mbogo and human rights activist Boniface Mwangi

KJ (MP, Dagoretti South)

Former “Redkyulas” and “Red Kona” comedian John Kiarie will also be on the ballot in August. He secured the Jubilee ticket to vie for the Dagoretti South parliamentary seat after defeating incumbent Dennis Waweru, son of bishop and city politician Margret Wanjiru.

KJ, as he is also known, put his entertainment career on hold a few years ago to venture into politics. Twice before, in 2007 and 2013, he unsuccessfully sought to become a legislator. In 2007, under ODM, he lost to career politician Beth Mugo, who was vying on a PNU ticket, and in 2013 he lost to Simba Arati in the party nominations. In February last year he decamped to Jubilee.

KJ rose to fame as a comedian in the comedy programmes “Redkyulass” and “Red Kona”, popular shows that aired on local television stations in the early 2000s. Alongside his colleagues Walter Mong’are, who played former President [Moi?], and Tony Njuguna, who played immediate former President Mwai Kibaki, KJ played Mama Lucy Kibaki. The group later disbanded and the three embarked on their personal ventures, with KJ plunging into politics.

FRASHA (MCA, Athi River Township)

Francis Amisi, aka Frasha, is yet another entertainer who has joined the political world, where he will be looking to secure the Athi River Township ward seat in the Machakos County Assembly under the Maendeleo Chap Chap party. In his several media interviews, Frasha said he would put his music career on hold if he is elected.

This is the third time Frasha is trying to swap careers. He first started as a doctor working at Aga Khan Hospital, before resigning to venture into music. He formed P-Unit, which ignited the airwaves for over seven years with hits like “You Guy” and “Wabe”. Last year he went solo, though he denied that the group had split, and last year he announced a change in career again when he joined politics.

CANNIBAL (MCA, Mtopanga)

One of the finest Kenyan rappers, Ralph Sanda Masaai, popularly known as Cannibal, is also in the race to be the next Mtopanga MCA in the August elections. Cannibal, alias Mjukuu wa Masaai, announced his intention to vie for the seat early last year.

He then put his decade-old music career on hold to concentrate on his campaigns. The “Kichwa Kibov” and “My City My Town” hit maker, who rose to fame as a member of hip-hop group Ukoo Fulani, has made it clear that he will quit music for good if he clinches the seat.