Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has sparked controversy with a series of incendiary posts on social media following his altercation at Nyayo Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Gabon.
His remarks, widely perceived as an attempt to incite hostility between the Luo and Luhya communities, have drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and the public alike.
Salasya’s controversial social media statements
After being attacked and chased out of Nyayo Stadium, Salasya took to social media, where he posted inflammatory statements blaming members of the Luo community for the incident.
In one post, the first-term MP wrote: “The Luo men attacking me are attacking the Luhya nation and the whole country. We shall revisit. ODM will remain a Luo party with their conman (Raila Odinga).”
He also made unsubstantiated claims that Harambee Stars’ loss to Gabon was a result of a supposed “Luo curse” and went further to make disparaging remarks about Raila Odinga, blaming him for the alleged attack.
Another post read: “Wajaluo wanataka kuniua (Luos want to kill me). I didn’t want to commit blood in my hands. Next time nitaangusha mmoja (I’ll kill one of them), God forbid.”
In a particularly offensive remark, Salasya suggested that circumcision is necessary to “remove stupidity,” a statement widely seen as a direct attack on the Luo community. This reckless comment has been met with sharp condemnation, with many Kenyans calling for accountability over such divisive rhetoric.
These statements have been widely condemned as reckless and dangerous, with many calling on authorities to take action against hate speech.
Leaders’ differences shouldn’t be ethnicized
Peter Salasya’s attempt to frame his personal and political disagreements with Raila Odinga as a Luo vs. Luhya issue is both misleading and dangerous. Political differences are a normal part of democracy, but when leaders start attributing personal conflicts to entire communities, they risk fueling unnecessary ethnic tensions.
Raila Odinga, like any other leader, has both supporters and critics from different communities, including his own Luo community. Associating his political ideology with only the Luo people is an outdated narrative that ignores Kenya’s diverse political landscape. Leaders from various ethnic backgrounds have worked with and against Raila at different points in time, yet it has never been a justification to drag entire communities into their disputes.
Additionally, political disagreements should be handled through dialogue, policy debates, and democratic processes—not through divisive rhetoric that paints certain groups as enemies.
If Salasya has grievances against Raila Odinga or any other leader, he should address them directly without resorting to tribal generalizations. Kenya has suffered enough from ethnic divisions, and leaders have a responsibility to promote peace, not stoke tensions for personal or political gain.
The Luo and Luhya communities have coexisted in brotherhood since time immemorial, united through intermarriage, shared culture, and a long history of political collaboration. Leaders such as Masinde Muliro and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga worked together for the betterment of Kenya, setting a foundation of unity between the two communities. Statements like Salasya’s risk undoing decades of peaceful coexistence.
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.
