Salasya reveals why Eugene Wamalwa is the only Luhya leader he fully trusts
By Mustafa Juma, July 22, 2026Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has opened up about his political journey, revealing why he considers DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa the only Luhya leader he fully trusts.
In a statement shared on his social media accounts in the wee hours of Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Salasya praised Wamalwa for standing by him at a time when, he claimed, many political leaders from the Western Kenya region distanced themselves from him because of his background.
“The man I respect most in the entire Luhya community is Eugene Wamalwa. He accepted me when many people did not want to associate with me because of my background,” Salasya wrote on X.
Salasya claims ODM leaders abandoned him
Salasya also recounted his experience after joining the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), saying he felt isolated despite the party having influential leaders from the Western region.
According to the first-term lawmaker, he expected support from the party’s senior leadership but was left disappointed.
“When I joined ODM, I felt rejected despite the party having two key leaders from Western Kenya—one serving as Secretary-General and another as Deputy Party Leader. They never associated with me,” he said.
Although Salasya did not mention them by name, the then ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and the then Deputy Party Leader, former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, were among the top ODM officials from Western Kenya in 2022.
Says Nyayo incident changed his outlook
Salasya further claimed that the experience that hurt him most was when he was assaulted at Nyayo Stadium after publicly opposing ODM’s decision to work with President William Ruto’s administration through the broad-based government arrangement.
He said he expected ODM leaders from the Western Kenya region to defend him, but that never happened.
“Even when I was beaten at Nyayo while telling ODM not to join the broad-based government, they never stood by me,” he stated.
He added that the incident permanently changed how he evaluates political relationships.
“That experience shaped my perspective. Loyalty and support matter to me, and I will always remember those who stood with me during difficult times.”
Salasya explains why he backs Wamalwa
The youthful legislator said his respect for Wamalwa is rooted in the support the former Defence Cabinet Secretary extended to him before he became an established political figure.
“For that reason, I cannot support leaders who, in my view, failed to stand with me when I needed them most,” Salasya said.
Salasya first rose to national prominence after winning the Mumias East parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election on a DAP-K ticket, defeating several seasoned politicians in what was widely considered one of the biggest upsets in Western Kenya.
Since then, he has become one of the country’s most outspoken young politicians, frequently commenting on national politics and positioning himself as a champion of youth leadership.
His political relationship with ODM has been turbulent in recent years, particularly after the party entered into a broad-based working arrangement with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration following the political truce between the President and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Salasya has consistently criticised the broad-based arrangement, arguing that ODM should remain a strong opposition party rather than cooperate with the government.
Opposition realignments ahead of 2027
His public endorsement of Wamalwa comes at a time when Western Kenya politics is undergoing significant realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wamalwa has emerged as one of the key figures within the opposition coalition, working alongside Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua and other leaders under the emerging United Alternative Government platform.
Although Salasya had earlier expressed interest in the 2027 presidency, he now claims that he will support Wamalwa should he emerge as the United Opposition’s presidential flagbearer.