Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has vowed to reject any attempts by President William Ruto’s administration to restrict political campaigns, calling a proposed law an attack on Kenya’s democratic foundation.

In a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Salasya warned that the law would open the door to “full-blown political repression” similar to what he termed as the situation in Uganda.

“I wish to categorically and unapologetically state my strong opposition to any legislative attempt to regulate or control political campaigns in Kenya under the guise of law and order,” he wrote.

He argued that such a law would undermine the right of Kenyans to campaign, mobilise, and seek leadership freely—rights enshrined in the 2010 Constitution. Salasya said the freedoms were secured through decades of civic struggle and must be protected at all costs.

“The Constitution of Kenya 2010 is very clear: every Kenyan has the right to campaign, to mobilise, and to seek leadership freely and fairly,” Salasya said. “We will not allow any law to reverse that legacy for the comfort of one regime or one man.”

He accused the government of trying to weaken the opposition instead of focusing on performance. “You cannot win future elections by crippling the opposition. You win by performing, by delivering, and by respecting the rule of law,” he said.

Salasya also called on fellow lawmakers to reject the proposed law, urging them to put the country before party politics. “I will reject this proposed law on the floor of the National Assembly, and I call on my fellow MPs, regardless of party affiliation, to rise above party loyalty and defend the soul of our democracy,” he said.

He concluded with a stark warning that the proposed law would pave the way for dictatorship. “If we allow this law to pass, we will have betrayed the future of this nation. We will have opened the door to dictatorship dressed in legal robes. I will not sit and watch as our country walks into political darkness.”

Salasya’s remarks come amid growing tensions in Kenya over a proposed law to regulate political campaigns, a move many see as the president’s attempt to tighten his grip on power.

The proposed legislation follows a turbulent period marked by economic challenges, including high inflation and soaring youth unemployment. These factors fuelled widespread protests in 2024, notably the Gen Z-led demonstrations against the Finance Bill, which forced Ruto to sack his cabinet and make concessions.

However, public discontent has persisted, driven by perceptions of unfulfilled campaign promises and persistent allegations of corruption. The proposed law is widely viewed as a reaction to Ruto’s political vulnerabilities after his populist 2022 campaign, and it has reignited fears of an authoritarian drift, drawing comparisons to Uganda’s political repression under President Yoweri Museveni.

Salasya’s outspoken opposition reflects a broader resistance from opposition leaders and civil society, who argue that the legislation undermines the democratic freedoms enshrined in the 2010 Constitution, setting the stage for a heated legislative battle.