Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has taken a swipe at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of behaving like he 'owns' the Gen Z.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 22, Salasya called for Gachagua's political retirement, noting that like Raila Odinga, he should go home and relax.
"Rigathi Gachagua must be told again, just like Raila was told, to go home and relax, and let Kenyans deal with President Ruto. He behaves as if he is the one who owns Gen Z. Rigathi must be told that Kenyans are not stupid," he said.
Salasya also brought up the emotional voting patterns of 2022 which he claims helped propel President William Ruto to power.
He warned that Gachagua's charm offensive towards the Gen Z would not rescue him or his allies in the coming elections.
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"They voted in Ruto with emotions, and no one is going to vote in Rigathi or his group of partners with emotions again, only for them to start leading this country with revenge and emotion," he added.
Salasya called for a new political direction, one that seeks unity and national healing in a period of growing political unrest.
"Kenya now needs a true leader who will unite this country and take it forward, a new face that will bring healing and new hope," he concluded.
This comes barely two weeks after Salasya called out Ruto’s administration over proposed legislation aimed at regulating political campaigns
In a statement on Wednesday, June 11, Salasya expressed deep concern about the alleged plan, warning that such a move could signal the beginning of political repression in the country.
"I wish to categorically and unapologetically state my strong opposition to any legislative attempt by President William Ruto’s administration to regulate or control political campaigns in Kenya under the guise of law and order."Let me be clear: if this law passes, Kenya risks sliding into full-blown political repression similar to what we are witnessing in Uganda—where opposition voices are constantly under siege, democracy is a façade, and power is protected, not contested," he said.
Salasya went on to accuse the government of pursuing power consolidation through legal manipulation, rather than upholding democratic principles.
"This proposed law is not about fairness or electoral discipline—it is about consolidating power and intimidating any Kenyan with presidential ambition who is not in the current government’s political club.
"It is a calculated move to use state machinery to manage, monitor, and ultimately suppress future competitors. That is dangerous. That is unconstitutional. And as leaders who believe in a free and democratic Kenya, we must stop it at all costs," he continued.
Salasya also rallied fellow legislators across the political divide to reject the proposed law, which he believes poses a grave threat to the country’s democratic foundation.
"I stand with all young leaders, emerging voices, and any Kenyan who aspires to serve this country—whether at the ward level or the presidency. I will reject this proposed law on the floor of the National Assembly, and I call on my fellow MPs, regardless of party affiliation, to rise above party loyalty and defend the soul of our democracy.
"If we allow this law to pass, we will have betrayed the future of this nation. We will have opened the door to dictatorship dressed in legal robes. I will not sit and watch as our country walks into political darkness. Kenya is not a dictatorship. We are a democracy. Let’s keep it that way," he concluded.
