Comedian and entrepreneur Sammy Kioko has officially declared his candidacy for the Mavoko Member of Parliament seat.
His political announcement comes months after a public dispute with the Machakos County Government over unpaid funds.
A Call to Leadership
Speaking during his announcement, Kioko shared the personal experiences that shaped his decision to enter elective politics.
He highlighted the everyday struggles faced by families across the
Kioko reflected on his own background, explaining how financial hardship almost cut short his education.
“I stand before you not as someone who has had an easy journey, but as someone who has known humble beginnings,” he stated.
“I have seen people work from sunrise to sunset but still struggle,” he added.
Roots and Mentorship
During his address, Kioko described how a missionary named John Malloy stepped in to pay his school fees when his parents could no longer afford them.
That intervention allowed him to complete his education and train as a teacher.
“John Malloy opened that door for me and I walked through that door,” Kioko said.
He emphasised that his campaign message represents his personal journey.
“I cannot just watch as my people struggle and simply walk away. And for me Mbele Pazuri is not just a slogan. It is a reality,” he explained.
The Machakos County Debt Controversy
Kioko’s entry into politics follows a high-profile financial clash with county authorities earlier in the year.
On 25 March 2026, the comedian shared a screenshot of an M-Pesa transaction showing a payment of KSh 20,000 from an individual named Kasanga.
Kioko claimed the money came from a senior county office regarding a KSh 19 million debt owed for staff uniforms supplied by his business.
“Out of the KSh 19 million owed to us, the only money we have received is KSh 20,000 sent via M‑Pesa. This is the highest level of manipulation and intimidation that we have ever experienced from Machakos County,” Kioko wrote on social media.
