Salasya backs Valentine for MP seat after her confrontation with Gachagua
By Mustafa Juma, July 31, 2025Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has thrown his weight behind Valentine Wanjiru Githae for the Nyeri Woman Representative seat, praising her boldness, brilliance, and rejection of tribal politics.
His endorsement comes days after Githae made headlines for confronting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a public forum in the United States, urging him to stop portraying himself as a tribal kingpin.
Taking to his official Instagram account on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Salasya argued that Wanjiru hated tribal card politics, which politicians have been using to take advantage of the people.
“This girl is 🔥. Woman Rep Nyeri County for Val Githae. Fagia wote. I like it. She is brilliant 👏. She hates tribal card politics because that’s where politicians take advantage of them,” Salasya stated.
National attention
Valentine Githae, a vocal Kenyan activist based in the diaspora running a movement dubbed the 625 Movement, which is aimed at celebrating the lives of the Gen Zs that were lost during the June 25, 2024, anti-Finance Bill protests, gained national attention for challenging Gachagua’s perceived tribal rhetoric, calling instead for unity and issue-based leadership.
Her bold confrontation has sparked a wider debate on the role of identity politics in Kenya’s governance.
Valentine confronts Gachagua
Gachagua was confronted by the young supporter during a community public rally in Baltimore, USA, on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Valentine, who introduced herself as a Gen Z, told Gachagua that she attended the event to tell him the truth and disclose some blunders that could cost his ambition in 2027.
Without mincing her words, Valentine candidly told Gachagua to start positioning himself as a national leader and not as a tribal honcho.
Valentine frankly indicated that speaking Kikuyu on such forums could lock out supporters who do not understand the language.
“My name is Valentine Wanjiru Githae, and I am here representing the 625 Movement. And mheshimiwa, we are here to tell you the truth, and if we don’t tell the truth as Gen Zs we are doomed to fail, and Kasongo will be back in power,” she stated.
“You need to start positioning yourself as a national leader and not a tribal leader. I know many people won’t like what I am saying, but it is the truth. The first mistake that has been done in this event is speaking Kikuyu,” she added.