Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya found himself at the center of chaos at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, March 23, as he was attacked and forced to leave the venue during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Gabon.
Salasya, who had arrived at the stadium donning an AFC Leopards jersey, was caught in a scuffle with a section of fans. In videos seen by WKT, the lawmaker was seen being confronted before an assailant hurled a trash bin at his face. His security team and some fans attempted to shield him amid the commotion.
Following the altercation, police officers and his security detail swiftly escorted Salasya out of the stadium towards his car. As he hurried away, some fans could be heard chanting, “Heshimu Rais! Heshimu Raila!” (Respect the President! Respect Raila!).
The incident drew swift condemnation from political leaders, with Saboti MP Caleb Amisi terming it “uncouth, uncalled for, and lugubrious.”
“Whoever planned this against Salasya must be brought to book. It must stop. Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed in our constitution. We may not agree on how he does his things, but this is a young man trying his luck in life,” Amisi stated.
Salasya’s party, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), also denounced the attack, calling it an act of “backwardness and ill-intentioned” by what they described as “known party goons.”
As of the time of reporting, it remained unclear if Salasya had sustained any injuries, as he had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Fans storm stadium amid high tensions
The chaos surrounding the match was not limited to Salasya’s attack. Earlier, fans forced their way into Nyayo Stadium moments before kickoff, with some scaling barriers to gain entry. Videos circulating online showed large crowds struggling through congested entry points.
Excitement had been building for the game, with tickets selling out a day before the match. However, the disorderly entry process raised concerns about security and crowd control at major sporting events.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has yet to release an official statement regarding both the Salasya incident and the unruly fan behavior.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Harambee Stars were trailing 1-0 at the time of publishing, following an early goal by former Arsenal striker and Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The match marked Kenya’s first competitive home fixture since November 2021.
Sam Oduor is the founder and one of the editors at WKT. With a strong background in Communication and Journalism, Sam is an experienced digital media expert currently building a team of young professionals dedicated to telling the story of our community in a unique, authentic way.
