November 29, 2023.
KAKAMEGA, Kenya | Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, finds himself in hot water as police launch a manhunt following allegations of threats against Resident Magistrate Gladys Kiama. The incident reportedly occurred outside the court on Monday after Magistrate Kiama handed down an unfavorable ruling in a small claims case, ordering the MP to pay Sh500,000 to Robert Lutta.
Salasya is now on the run, with police revealing that the MP has switched off his mobile phones and gone into hiding. Authorities are urging him to surrender and record a statement, emphasizing the importance of due process in resolving legal matters.
The confrontation unfolded following Magistrate Kiama’s judgment dismissing Salasya’s counterclaim against repaying the debt. The court established that the MP had borrowed Sh500,000 from businessman Robert Lutta in December 2022, following his victory in the August 2022 parliamentary elections. Despite reminders, Salasya failed to repay the loan within the stipulated two-month period.
Lutta, taking legal action through lawyer Edwin Wafula on October 23, 2023, presented bank transfer details as evidence of the transaction. He expressed readiness to utilize the Civil Procedure Act to seek civil jail time for the MP if the debt continued to go unpaid. The court sided with Lutta, ordering Salasya to settle the Sh500,000 debt, along with interest and case costs.
Magistrate Kiama reported the alleged threat to the Kakamega police station, stating that Salasya had threatened to kill her before fleeing the scene.
