Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has renewed calls for Luhya unity and political awakening as he kicks off a countrywide tour ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Dorofu Market in Kanduyi, Bungoma County, Salasya lamented the persistent disunity among Luhya leaders, which he said has denied the region key leadership roles and vital development opportunities for decades.
“We had a leader called Masinde Muliro who brought all Mulembe houses together. Later, we had Kijana Wamalwa, and because of that unity, we got a vice president. But for the last 20 years, we’ve remained divided,” Salasya told the crowd.
Also Read
The youthful MP accused Western Kenya leaders of focusing on personal interests at the expense of collective progress, alleging that they fail to demand infrastructure and development when engaging with national leadership.
“Even when they go to State House, they don’t push for roads or services. They only fight for their own interests. That’s why we remain disunited,” he added.
Salasya, who has declared his intention to run for president in 2027, called on the Luhya community to realise its strength in numbers and economic influence, and rally behind leaders pushing for genuine transformation.
“We are over 10 million and we contribute significantly to the country’s tax revenue. It’s time we speek with one voice,” he urged.
In an Instagram statement after the Bungoma rally, Salasya described the event as the birth of a new kind of leadership.
“My presidential bid today in Bungoma in Kanduyi kwa Dorofu Market is a wake-up voice that a new leader who is going to put all Luhya together has been born… One-man guitar,” he posted.
Salasya began his latest grassroots engagements in Busia County on May 1 and plans to extend his campaign across the country.
Rift with Raila Odinga
Notably, the MP revealed he would avoid campaigning in Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori — ODM leader Raila Odinga’s strongholds — a move that has further fueled speculation about a widening rift between the two.
“I will again meet all youth leaders in my home of Kisumundogo… Areas I will not go to are Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori. Nairobi will be the last region,” he said.
Salasya accused Raila of sidelining the Luhya community despite their longstanding political support, asserting that the Luo community has been the primary beneficiary of Odinga’s political negotiations.
“We have stood with Raila through thick and thin… But it’s always the Luo community that benefits most when it comes to national appointments,” he claimed.
Declaring an end to what he termed political exploitation, Salasya said the Luhya community is ready to chart its own path.
“We are not waiting to be invited. We are charting our course. We shall not go into 2027 blindly. We are awake. We are ready.”
As Salasya positions himself as a fresh voice for Western Kenya, his campaign is shaping up to challenge long-standing political alliances and redefine the region’s role in national politics.