Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has opened up on the various options he had after he was attacked at Nyayo National Stadium during the Harambee Stars vs. Gabon match.
Salasya, while narrating his ordeal in a video shared via his official social media accounts on Monday, March 24, 2025, said that the attack on him had been well planned.
According to him, he had very dangerous retaliation options, which he chose not to pursue.
“I could have decided to go and sit in the middle of the pitch, and that game would have been postponed. Another option could have caused a stampede,” he said.
“I thank God I went alone. I didn’t go with my bodyguards; I didn’t arm myself because that could have been a disaster.”
Salasya also argued that the planners of his attack took advantage of the football match because they knew he was not a coward.
“What happened yesterday was a planned thing. I remember I was the first one who told people to come to Nyayo. They took advantage because they knew I would definitely come because I am not a coward at all,” he said.
Salasya went ahead to reveal that he had only tagged along with a friend, as he did not anticipate violence.
He narrated how events unfolded from the moment he got to Nyayo Stadium, where Gabon and Harambee Stars were set to play a football match.
“The moment I entered, it was planned, and someone warned me at the gate. Then there was one guy who was following me everywhere I went. I went up to the VIP, and he was still following me,” Salasya said.
Salasya said if the attack had not been planned, then the people against him would not have teamed up to attack him.
A section of leaders has since condemned the attack on Salasya, with some calling for respect and political tolerance.
Mudavadi condemns incident
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is among the leaders that have heavily condemned the attack.
Mudavadi, in a statement shared via his official social media accounts on Sunday night, termed the incident as unfortunate.
He further stated that political intolerance would undermine the very foundation of Kenya’s democracy, which relies on the ability to engage with differing views.
“What happened to Hon. Peter Salasya at Nyayo Stadium today is unfortunate. Political intolerance undermines the very foundation of our democracy, which relies on the ability to engage with differing views,” Mudavadi said.
He went ahead to urge Kenyans to always respect everyone whom they do not hold the same political view, telling them that risked tearing down everything leaders hope to build should they allow division to win.
“We won’t always agree, and that’s okay. But respect, dialogue, and unity must remain non-negotiable. Respect must be given, but it must also be earned. Fellow Kenyans, no one else will build this nation for us. If we let division win, we risk tearing down everything we hope to build. A house divided cannot stand. Let’s choose reason over chaos and maturity over noise. Kenya’s future depends on it,” Mudavadi stated.
Salasya attacked
Salasya who was among the many Kenyans who attended the sold-out match between Harambee Stars and Gabon was on Sunday whisked out of the Nyayo Stadium as rowdy youths attacked him.
Salasya who was donning an AFC Leopards jersey was seen in viral videos being attacked by rowdy and unknown youths as they pushed him towards the exit.
Others are seen throwing objects at him, while a few try to protect him from the attacks.
