Mumias East MP Peter Salasya stole the limelight yesterday during President William Ruto’s visit to his constituency.

Salasya seized the opportunity to criticise the government’s operations, urging President Ruto to reconsider the advice he is receiving from some of his close allies.

Ruto was in Mumias for commissioning of the first-ever bonus payments to sugarcane farmers.

Salasya grabbed the public’s attention when he addressed the President, calling out the government for what he termed a lack of transparency and poor decision-making.

He questioned the source of the funds allocated for the farmers’ bonuses, asking, “Where is the money we are giving these farmers coming from? We need to know because it was not in our budget.”

He went further to suggest that the President is short of advisors.

“I want to ask you, Mr President, to hire me as your advisor because your people are not being honest with you,” Salasya remarked.

Salasya also pointed out that cartels within the government were undermining the President’s efforts to govern effectively.

Without naming specific individuals, Salasya alleged that certain government officials were feeding the President misinformation.

“They’re telling you SHA (Social Health Authority) is working when it is not. The new university funding model is not working. I know you have the heart to help the country, but there are cartels and traitors within your government. They don’t want you to know the truth,” he said.

In response, Ruto said he would work with the MP despite his threats. He acknowledged Salasya’s vocal approach, describing the MP as a “good young man” who sometimes goes too far in his criticism.

“Salasya is a good young man who needs a few corrections,” said Ruto.

He noted that while Salasya is effective in defending the interests of his constituents, he occasionally crosses the line by “threatening” others in the process.

“He knows how to defend his people, but at times, he threatens them and even us (the government). He threatens us, but I will hold his hands so that we can work together as one,” Ruto said.

The event was attended by political leaders, including Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Governor Fernandes Barasa, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, a.

Salasya’s call to Ruto on sycophancy comes a day after ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna raised the same issue at a Siaya funeral on Saturday.

Sifuna said the Orange Democratic Movement is still in opposition despite its senior members joining the Ruto Cabinet and that leaders need to stay away from the growing sycophancy and speak out when things go wrong in the country.

“There are some people who are telling me that I should not speak out whenever things go wrong in the country,’’ he said.