MP Salasya escapes arrest attempt by armed men in Mombasa

There was tension at a hotel in Mombasa on Saturday night after Mumias East MP Peter Salasya narrowly escaped what appeared to be an attempted arrest by unidentified armed officers.

The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions over the motive and legality of the operation.

In a video shared by the MP on his social media pages, both uniformed and plain-clothed officers, some masked and brandishing pistols, were seen attempting to seize Salasya at an undisclosed location in Mombasa.

The situation quickly escalated when local residents and Salasya’s supporters intervened, demanding that the officers produce an arrest warrant and properly identify themselves. The officers failed to do so.

“No one can arrest Salasya like this,” shouted one supporter, while another was heard saying, “A gun will not silence us,” as they surrounded the men, whose unmarked vehicle lacked license plates.

The officers eventually fled the scene under pressure from the agitated crowd.

The MP, who recently declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general elections, condemned the incident, calling it “unconstitutional, reckless, shameful and cowardly.”

Salasya argued that no MP should be subjected to such treatment without due process.

"It is unacceptable for any law enforcement agency to attempt to arrest an elected leader without presenting an arrest warrant or disclosing their identities. This is a dangerous precedent,” Salasya said in a statement on Saturday night.

The motive behind the attempted arrest remains unclear, and no official statement has been released by police authorities as of Sunday morning.

The youthful MP, known for his populist approach and direct engagement with constituents, is currently on a nationwide tour to promote his 2027 presidential bid.

He has pledged to challenge the country's entrenched political norms by forming a new political movement aimed at uniting Kenyans beyond ethnic lines and financial influence.

Salasya began his campaign trail in Busia County and plans to continue to Siaya in June.

Amid growing speculation about his affiliations, he strongly denied being a government-sponsored candidate or a project of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).