Salim Swaleh breaks silence on viral tearful video to Musalia Mudavadi
By William Muthama, June 18, 2026Media personality Salim Swaleh has broken his silence on a viral emotional video in which he tearfully addressed Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi.
Speaking about the viral video, in an interview on Thursday, June 18, 2026, the former journalist, who previously served as Director of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) Press Service, clarified that the clip was a private message that was later leaked online during a difficult period in his legal battle.
Swaleh explained that it was recorded during a deeply emotional moment following a court session, when he felt overwhelmed by the circumstances surrounding his case.
“Do you remember that video that went viral of me crying? That video ended up reopening a very painful wound for me,” he said. “Let me make it clear here. Many people thought I was seeking public sympathy. Do you know that the video leaked one month after it was recorded?”
Swaleh said the recording was made after he left court feeling emotionally drained, describing the period as one of the most difficult moments of his life.
“Honestly, it felt like there was no light ahead; everything was dark,” he said, adding that he was struggling to process the situation and its impact on his long-standing relationship with Mudavadi.
He noted that he and Mudavadi had built a close working relationship over the years, but the accusations strained their communication and personal trust.
“I reflected on my long friendship with Hon. Musalia; we had known each other since 2011,” he said. “Since the incident happened, we had not even had a chance to talk.”
Swaleh added that he attempted to reach out through intermediaries, but communication remained limited, with only one brief conversation taking place.
How the emotional message was recorded
Swaleh further stated that the decision to record the emotional message came after a particularly difficult moment in court, when he felt compelled to directly express his feelings.
“I decided I needed to speak to Musalia directly. I took my phone, went into the bedroom, and recorded that emotional message. It was very difficult,” he recalled.
However, Swaleh said he was shocked when the video surfaced online a month later, stating that it had originally been shared privately with only a few individuals.
“One month later, I saw the video online,” he said. “It was meant for private communication, but it ended up everywhere.”
Impact on family
He also revealed that the leak had a significant emotional impact on his family, saying his children were affected after being exposed to public commentary about the situation.
“My children were deeply affected; they went to school and were told, ‘We saw your father crying,’” he said.