Salim Swaleh Recalls Painful Moment Viral Video of Him Crying Leaked Online

Former journalist and government communications official Salim Swaleh has opened up about the emotional moment that led him to record a viral video in which he was seen crying and appealing to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Speaking in an interview with a local station on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Swaleh said he recorded the video privately during one of the most difficult periods of his life after he was linked to a fraud case involving Mudavadi’s office.

Swaleh previously worked as a reporter and news anchor at NTV and Citizen TV before joining the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

He was later dismissed following allegations of involvement in a fraudulent scheme. The case is still before the courts.

Why Salim Swaleh Recorded the Emotional Video

The former journalist said the video was never meant for the public and was only shared privately with a few people in Mudavadi’s office.

“I recorded that emotional message after leaving court. At that time, everything looked dark, and I could not see any hope ahead,” Swaleh said.

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He explained that many people wrongly believed he was publicly seeking sympathy or special treatment from Mudavadi.

“Many people thought I was looking for favour from Musalia Mudavadi through the public, but that is not what happened. The video leaked exactly one month after it was recorded,” he said.

Swaleh recalled that the case was still in its early stages when he recorded the video. He said he was shocked by some of the accusations that had been read out in court and maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

Attempts to Reach Prime CS Mudavadi

According to him, he had known Mudavadi since 2011 and considered him a longtime friend. Before recording the video, he tried several times to reach him through mutual contacts but was unsuccessful.

“I kept sending people to tell the boss that the matter was not as serious as it was being portrayed in the media. Since his office was the complainant and he knew me well, I hoped we could talk,” Swaleh said.

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He added that after the allegations emerged, he only managed to have one brief phone conversation with Mudavadi.

Feeling frustrated and alone after a court appearance, Swaleh decided to record a personal message from his bedroom and send it privately to one or two people in the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office.

“It was a very difficult moment. I recorded that emotional message hoping it would reach him privately,” he said.

How the Video Affected His Family

However, about a month later, he was surprised to see the video circulating on social media, where it quickly went viral and attracted widespread attention.

The former broadcaster said the leak had a major impact on his family, especially his children.

“My children were deeply affected. They would go to school and be told, ‘We saw your father crying.’ It was very painful,” he recalled.

Swaleh said the viral video brought renewed attention to the case at a time when he was already dealing with the challenges of the court process.

At the same time, Swaleh announced that he is going to vie for the Gilgil parliamentary seat in Nakuru County in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

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Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi speaking during the launch of NSSF financial year report on February 2026. PHOTO/Mudavadi X