Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has urged leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi to rethink their political strategy following chaotic scenes that disrupted the opposition movement’s activities in Homa Bay on Sunday.
Salasya said the difficulties encountered by the movement, coupled with violence and disruptions reported during its Homa Bay mobilisation, should prompt its leaders to reassess how they approach the 2027 General Election.
In a statement, the legislator said Linda Mwananchi’s struggle to access Homa Bay Town until late in the evening demonstrated the challenges facing the movement as it seeks to expand its political influence beyond its traditional support bases.
“After everything that young people in Homa Bay have gone through, and after Linda Mwananchi struggled to access Homa Bay Town until late in the evening, I believe it is time for Linda Mwananchi to rethink its political strategy,” Salasya said.
His remarks came after reports of road blockades, burning tyres, attacks on vehicles and confrontations involving groups of youths during the movement’s activities in Homa Bay County.
Several journalists covering the events were also reportedly attacked, with some sustaining injuries while equipment and other valuables were allegedly stolen. Police subsequently arrested several suspects and recovered crude weapons in parts of the county.
Salasya proposed that opposition politicians consolidate their individual efforts into a broader national political coalition capable of competing across different regions.
“My appeal is simple: let us fold our separate efforts into one united opposition movement and build a truly national coalition,” he said.
The MP identified Western, Kisii, Bomet, Mt Kenya, Ukambani, Coast, North Eastern, Narok, Kajiado and Turkana among the regions he believes should form part of a wider opposition strategy.
Salasya also challenged politicians who assume that particular communities or regions automatically belong to specific political parties or leaders.
“The message to politicians who take voters for granted should be clear: Kenyan votes belong to the people. No community should be treated as anyone’s political property,” he said.
He argued that the opposition should move away from personality-driven politics and instead develop a national agenda centred on issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
According to Salasya, employment, accountability, development and dignity should form the foundation of the opposition’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We need an opposition that reaches beyond personalities, regions and political dynasties—an opposition built around jobs, accountability, development, dignity and the interests of ordinary Kenyans,” he said.
His comments add to growing debate within opposition circles over the most effective strategy for building a nationwide political coalition ahead of 2027.
Salasya maintained that the next election should give voters an opportunity to make decisions based on issues rather than automatic loyalty to political parties, communities or established leaders.
“2027 should be about the issues and the people, not automatic political loyalty. Let the people decide,” he said.