Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya narrowly escaped arrest at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday May 10, 2025 at night after residents confronted the police officers.
Videos circulating on social media, show several armed police officers wearing plain clothes and masks at the hotel where the Mumias East MP was residing.
Speaking shortly after the incident, Salasya said that the men, who said they were police officers, did not provide any identification documents or an arrest warrant.
The MP added that their vehicle had no number plates, raising suspicions over the attempted arrest.
In one of the videos shared by Salasya, there was a confrontation between the officers and Salasya’s supporters as he escaped.
The incident comes a few days after the Mumias East MP declared interest in contesting for the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
On Saturday, Salasya took his presidential campaigns to Malindi town in Kilifi County and accused the current government of marginalizing the youth.
Speaking at a roadside rally at Kwa Chocha area in Malindi town, the vocal MP said that more than four million Kenyan youth were jobless due to poor government policies and corruption perpetuated by the old political class.
The first term MP took his 2027 presidential campaign to Kilifi, urging the youth to rally behind him for quality leadership in the country.
However, the reason for the attempted arrest remains unclear.
In a statement posted on X, the MP termed the attempted arrest as unconstitutional, reckless, shameful and cowardly.
“I want to categorically condemn the reckless, shameful, and cowardly attempt by unidentified individuals purporting to be police officers who stormed my hotel residence in Mombasa earlier today to unlawfully arrest me,” he stated.
“Let it be clear, this was not an arrest. It was a criminal act disguised as law enforcement. An attack not just on me as a Member of Parliament and 2027 presidential candidate, but on the democratic space of this nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MP has urged law enforcement authorities to investigate and identify the person who gave the orders to arrest him.
