Salasya: Presidency is about policy, not moving from village to village
By Sharon Atieno, July 2, 2026Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has weighed in on the country’s leadership debate, arguing that the presidency should focus on policy formulation and institution-building rather than constant political tours across villages.
In a post on his official X account on Thursday, July 2, 2026, the outspoken Mumias East MP appeared to draw a sharp contrast between current leadership trends and the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki, whom he praised as a visionary leader focused on long-term national development.
“Watching a president chair a Cabinet meeting reminds me of the leadership of Mwai Kibaki. In my view, Kibaki was a visionary leader whose focus was on policy and long-term development,” Salasya stated.
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The legislator praised Kibaki’s administration for rolling out transformative education reforms that expanded access to learning opportunities for millions of Kenyan children.
According to Salasya, the former president’s government introduced free primary education and later rolled out free day secondary education, policies he said opened doors for many young Kenyans who would otherwise have been locked out of the education system.
Kibaki legacy praised
Salasya further noted that Kibaki’s tenure also improved the welfare of civil servants through better salaries while introducing reforms that strengthened financial accountability in government operations.
“His administration expanded access to free primary education and introduced free day secondary education, giving many children an opportunity to learn. It also improved public sector salaries and promoted payment through the banking system, bringing greater transparency,” he added.
Focus on policy, not endless tours
In what appeared to be indirect criticism of leaders who spend significant time on public tours, Salasya insisted that the presidency should be centred on building strong institutions and making decisions that create long-term impact.
“To me, the presidency is not about constantly moving from one village to another. It is about creating sound policies, strengthening institutions, and making decisions that improve the lives of citizens for generations,” he stated.
His remarks come amid growing national debate over governance priorities, public spending and the role of leadership in addressing key challenges facing Kenyans, including education, economic growth and service delivery.