Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has declared that his growing political influence should not be underestimated, urging leaders from Western Kenya with presidential ambitions to embrace consultation and unity as the race towards the 2027 General Election gathers momentum.

In a statement shared via his official X account on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Salasya said the nationwide engagements he had made through his Presidential Familiarisation Tour had demonstrated that his political movement had evolved into a force that could not be ignored.

“Kweli, Kenya tumetembea. The Presidential Familiarisation Tour demonstrated one thing clearly: our movement is a force that cannot be ignored,” Salasya stated.

The first-term legislator, who has repeatedly expressed interest in running for the presidency, said leaders from Western Kenya seeking national leadership should prioritise collaboration over rivalry.

“As one of the political leaders from Western Kenya, I believe my contribution should never be underestimated. Any leader from our region with national ambitions should recognize the importance of consultation, unity, and working together with key stakeholders. Success is built through collaboration, not division,” he stated.

Salasya extended an olive branch to fellow politicians, saying he was ready to engage any leader interested in discussing the region’s political future.

“To those who wish to engage, my door is open. Let us sit together, share ideas, and chart the best path forward for our people,” Salasya said.

He maintained that the battle for State House in 2027 should not revolve around individual ambitions but around offering Kenyans an alternative vision for the country’s future.

“The 2027 presidential journey is bigger than any one individual. It is a collective responsibility, and Kenyans are looking for leadership that delivers meaningful change. Together, we can build a stronger, more united, and more prosperous Kenya,” he wrote on X.

Building a national profile

Salasya’s remarks come after months of travelling across different parts of the country as part of what he has branded a presidential familiarisation tour.

The campaign saw him hold public engagements in several counties as he sought to introduce himself to voters beyond his Western Kenya political base. During the tour, he framed his message around youth empowerment, economic transformation and national unity, arguing that the challenges facing ordinary Kenyans cut across regional and ethnic boundaries.

His engagements have taken him to regions including Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Kisii, Nyamira, Meru, Isiolo, Embu, Machakos and parts of the Coast and North Eastern Kenya, where he met local leaders, youth groups and residents while popularising his presidential ambitions.

At various stages of the tour, Salasya also encountered political and security hurdles, including brief run-ins with law enforcement that he claimed were intended to frustrate his early presidential campaign.

Western Kenya emerging as key battleground

His latest remarks come as Western Kenya increasingly becomes one of the country’s most fiercely contested political regions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

President William Ruto has intensified development tours and economic empowerment programmes across the region, while opposition leaders have also held rallies in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia in an effort to consolidate support.

The region’s political landscape has also shifted significantly following the entry of senior figures such as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula into the Kenya Kwanza administration, creating new competition for influence among emerging leaders.

Positioning himself for 2027

Although Salasya has yet to formally launch a presidential campaign, he has consistently projected himself as a national leader capable of challenging the country’s traditional political establishment.

The Mumias East MP has repeatedly argued that Kenya’s next generation of leadership should move beyond ethnic alliances and focus on issues affecting ordinary citizens, including unemployment, the cost of living and economic opportunity.

His latest appeal for consultation appears aimed at positioning himself as an indispensable player in Western Kenya politics, even as discussions continue over possible alliances and presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 polls.