Not once, not twice but four times has the recently suspended Kanu secretary general tried unsuccessfully to return to Parliament.
In the August elections, Salat lost the Bomet East parliamentary seat to Richard Yegon of UDA. Salat garnered 13,475 votes against Yegon's 35,431.
His only mistake has been to associate himself with the Independence party and former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, a strong critic of President William Ruto. Gideon is the Kanu chairman.
While the decision by party to kick out Salat in December has caused political disquiet among the party’s supporters, some political observers say the move could signal good tidings.
Kanu accused Salat of misconduct and violation of party's constitution.
Raymond Langat, a scholar and political commentator, his removal is a political lifeline for Salat, the son of the first Bomet MP Isaac Kipkorir Salat.
While attributing Salat's several futile attempts to return to Parliament to wrong political alignment, Langat says his exit from Kanu could open doors for him in 2027 and future elections.
“Salat has been losing elections not because he is not popular but because of his choice of party. Which means his exit from Kanu can hand him a political lifeline,” Langat says.
Langat is, however, quick to note Salat's fortunes may go further South, if he refuses to seize the opportunity, jump ship and declare his support for President Ruto.
“This is a golden opportunity to be himself ... He should seize it and for sure, he is going to be a man to watch,” he adds.
The political commentator cites his mobilisation and oratorical skills, noting even if he falls out with Kanu and runs broke, he may win sympathy votes and easily make a comeback.
“If Salat will speak out today and be honest, his recent failed attempts in elective politics are due to his refusal to ditch Kanu and follow the wishes of his supporters,” he says.
Salat developed an interest in politics in 1996, when he became Kanu's organising secretary.
His late father was MP of the larger Bomet and held the position for three terms between 1974 and 1988.
Salat was first elected to Parliament in 2002 but lost the seat to Kipkalya Kones, now deceased. Since then, his attempts to bounce back have been futile.
In 2013, he ran for the Bomet Senate seat but lost to Wilfred Lesan of Ruto's URP, which was the party of choice in the Rift Valley.
In the 2017, Salat yet again failed, this time round to a newcomer and university don Christopher Langat.
In 2020, the outspoken politician got a lifeline when former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him chairman of the Agriculture Development Corporation.
After a streak of losses, Salat settled for the Bomet East MP seat in the August 2022 election, which he also lost.
The tiff between Salat and Gideon started late last year, when he expressed interest in running for the East Africa Legislative Assembly seat. His was among the four names Kanu submitted under the Azimio coalition for consideration for the the four available slots.
Gideon had also shown interest but later withdrew. Others were Micah Kigen and Gladwell Cheruiyot.
It later emerged that Kanu had not been allocated any position as ODM, Wiper and Jubilee shared the spoils. Kanu was banking on ODM generosity to get a slot.
A big war later erupted, with disgruntled Salat accusing Gideon of running down the "once vibrant party.
“Just because he withdrew his name, does it mean the party must go down with him?” he asked. He added that the party is so personalised that if his interests are not aligned, then it is the end.
Salat pledged to take him head on, saying he was not going to allow the party to collapse due to mismanagement.
“We feel as true believers of this great party that we should not allow things to go on like this. We are going to make things work right,” he told the Star in an interview.
As the battle between the duo surfaced, the party through the chairman convened and a decision to suspend him was reached.
The disciplinary committee to probe him has already started its sitting and has 14 days to hear and make its recommendations.
Salat's supporters from his backyard have weighed in on the matter, threatening to withdraw their support for Kanu in protest, arguing he was unfairly hounded out of office, despite being loyal for years.
“Salat has stood with the party through thick and thin and has sacrificed his political career for the survival of Kanu in the Rift Valley. It is wrong for NEC to suspend him in a humiliating manner,” Michael Korir, a former councillor and Kanu supporter, said.
He said he read mischief in the move.
“If you want to kill a dog, you start by giving it a bad name and that is exactly what NEC is doing. They want to force Salat out and we will not accept it,” Korir said.
He added that Salat has been the face of Kanu in the South Rift, warning that his removal would mean the end of the party.
“This is the end of Kanu in the South Rift. Who will have the guts to speak out and support it in the absence of Salat, who has stood so firm?” Korir asked. He demanded Kanu's asked NEC rescinds the decision.
He said the decision was ill-informed and a wider plot to sling mud at Salat politically, despite his sacrifices to help the party stand the test of time.
He warned that if the NEC recommends his removal, they will withdraw their support and advise Salat to ditch the party.
Kenneth Chepkwony, another ardent Kanu supporter, said the timing was suspect.
Terming the move a political coup, Chepkwony accused the top party organ of making the move for selfish interests.
He accused Kanu of going against the Political Party Act by failing to conduct elections and only using boardroom meetings to select party officials and kick out those they deem disloyal.
“We will not accept anything until NEC tells us the mistake Salat has made. If it is about campaigns, he did it and it cost him Bomet East,” Chepkwony said.
He insisted the Kamukunji rally by Azimio leaders should not be used as an excuse.
“There is more than meets the eye and NEC should not beat about the Bush by declaring openly the interests behind plants to kick out Salat from the Kanu secretary general post,” he added.
Edited by EKibii
