Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has been granted release on a cash bail of Ksh.200,000 amidst allegations of hate speech.
Appearing before the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, Salasya’s defense counsel vehemently decried the manner of his apprehension, denouncing it as egregiously draconian. Advocate Ken Echesa articulated that the legislator had been detained in a manner devoid of propriety, with the legal team subsequently being barred from accessing their client.
“An individual shot at his car and arrested him without identification,” Echesa contended, underscoring the glaring irregularities surrounding the operation. He implored the court to reinstate Salasya’s security personnel, stressing the criticality of safeguarding his safety amidst escalating threats.
Addressing the press outside the courtroom, Echesa castigated the employment of state machinery as a mechanism to stifle constructive dissent. “Using the police to abduct young leaders, who have shown interest in the liberation of their country, is uncalled for,” he declared.
The advocate further exhorted Salasya to maintain his resolve, asserting that constitutional tenets unequivocally enshrine his liberties. “We urge our client to remain firm and that the constitution protects his fundamental rights and freedoms. He has the freedom of speech, of movement, and he can declare interest in any seat,” he affirmed.
Recollecting the perturbing events of May 16, Salasya delineated a harrowing ordeal. He recounted how individuals purporting to be DCI officers besieged his convoy during his return from an Isiolo tour. According to Salasya, the assailants—masked and wielding sophisticated firearms—unleashed a barrage of gunfire, incapacitating his vehicle by deflating its tyres before forcibly disarming his security entourage and apprehending him.
In a series of dispatches via his official X account, the MP vividly chronicled the ambush. He portrayed the attackers, approximately 15 in number, as operatives executing a meticulously orchestrated assault. Despite the gravity of the episode, Salasya has remained resolute, framing the incident as a politically motivated stratagem to thwart his aspirations for 2027.
