Lawyer Sues Mumias East MP Peter Salasya Over Alleged Assault

A lawyer from Kakamega has taken legal action against Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, seeking compensation for harm to his reputation as well as emotional and psychological distress.

According to the lawyer, the MP instigated a physical and verbal confrontation with him regarding a case he was handling. This particular case involves Mr Salasya and his unwillingness to pay back a borrowed amount of Sh500,000 after his victory in the August 2022 general election. Currently, the MP is ordered to present himself before the court on November 8, 2023, to address the accusations held against him stemming from the aforementioned loan conflict brought forward by businessman Robert Malenya Lutta.

Edwin Wawire Wafula, the legal advisor for Mr Lutta, is imploring the court to intervene after his client was reportedly exposed to verbal and physical aggression in Kakamega town. On October 30, 2023, Resident Magistrate Gladys Kiama instructed Mr Wafula to serve Mr Salasya with the necessary court documents to ensure his appearance in court on November 8 for the case hearing. Mr Wafula alleges that at approximately 6 pm on November 2, Mr Salasya verbally abused him and made threats whilst they were both at Vovo Hotel in Kakamega town.

The hotel management subsequently expelled Mr Salasya from the premises. Later that evening, the duo came face to face again, this time at Vault Hotel, another venue in Kakamega where the politician is reported to have physically attacked the lawyer. Fortunately, staff members of Vault Hotel were able to subdue and remove the lawmaker. The MP, in a fit of anger, hurled insults at Mr Wafula, declaring, “You thought I wouldn’t find you. You are a very small thing before me and you will not move out of this place until I finish up with you.”

In the previous case heard at the Small Claims Court, the plaintiff, Mr Lutta, said if the MP is found guilty of defaulting, he intends to invoke Section 38 of the Civil Procedure Act which grants the authority to imprison debtors. This decision was reached after an out-of-court settlement, proposed by the MP, fell through. Mr Lutta has asserted that despite numerous reminders, the MP has failed to repay the outstanding debt of Sh500,000.