Every Kenyan election always comes with inspiring stories of how some candidates overcame tremendous challenges to emerge victorious.
In the recently concluded August 2022 general election, Peter Salasya blessed Kenyans with his moving story of how he struggled to become the new Mumias Member of Parliament (MP).
The youthful legislator was born on January 15, 1989. He is the sixth born in a family of seven siblings.
Mr Salasya is an alumni of Shianderema Primary School, Lubinu Boys High School, and Egerton University where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce.
He is also a Human Resource professional and holds a Higher National Diploma from Sigalalgala National Polytechnic.
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“It was by the grace of God that I managed to complete school. Many times I was sent back home for school fees, sometimes staying home for many days as my mother moved around looking for money,” Mr. Salasya stated.
He made his political debut in 2017 when he unsuccessfully vied for the Mumias East parliamentary seat.
Unable to raise sufficient funds for his campaign then, Slash was forced to use handcarts. He was trounced by former National Assembly Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali.
In the 2022 election, the people embraced and supported his bid with some even raising funds to aid his campaign.
The residents also built him a house as he had not constructed one for himself, but needed somewhere to operate from, and the Luhya tradition also required him to have his home before ascending to a position of leadership.
He had initially planned to vie for the seat as an Independent candidate in order to guarantee a place at the ballot, but he changed his mind when DAP-Kenya Party affiliated to outgoing Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa approached him.
After talks, he secured the party's ticket and also secured some financial and material support from CS Wamalwa.
Mr. Salasya said some of his constituents dismissed him and termed him a mad person, arguing that there was no possible way for him to become MP.
Despite having financial inadequacies, he managed to roll out a door-to-door campaign that saw him become popular and endeared him to the electorate. His massive groundwork paid off on August 9, 2022, when he was elected MP.
In an interview before heading for his inauguration in Parliament, he divulged that the campaigns and all other events leading to the inauguration had left him with only Sh500 and a zero balance in his bank account.
"Right now I have only Ksh500 in my pocket. My account is also empty,” he told Citizen TV.
As a way of giving back, Salasya has promised to use his first salary to purchase tents, chairs, and a public address system to cater for the needs of the bereaved in his constituency.
