Mumias East MP Peter Salasya is expected to appear before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in Nairobi on Tuesday. The legislator is expected to appear at EACC’s offices at the Integrity Centre at 9 am for an interview and statement recording. In a letter dated January 16, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak notified him that there would be two officers available to receive and record the said statement. The summon is meant to address the allegations that the MP assaulted an MCA during a funeral on January 12, 2024.
The CEO noted that the allegations constitute serious ethical issues, saying if the same are true, they would amount to a serious breach of the integrity and ethical requirements governing the conduct of State Officers. This is according to Chapter Six of the Constitution and, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012. Mbarak said the Commission has already launched investigations into the matter to help take the appropriate action as per its mandate. Salasya was on Wednesday last week charged in Mumias court with assault.
He appeared before Mumias Senior Resident Magistrate Marcella Onyango and took a plea for assault and grievous bodily harm charges. Onyango granted a Sh50,000 bond to the controversial lawmaker and set mention of the case for February 19 and a hearing on March 12. MP Salasya presented himself in court after the magistrate ordered him to do so.
He failed to appear in court on Tuesday and claimed he was sick and had been admitted to Aga Khan Hospital. Salasya was charged with assaulting Malaha/Isongo MCA Peter Walunya during a funeral service on January 12, 2023. He denied the charges. The prosecution led by Arnold Magina asked the court to cancel bond terms for the accused after he failed to appear on Tuesday. Magima argued that the cash bail issued to the accused by police cash bail be forfeited by the state and a warrant of arrest issued against the MP for failing to appear in court as directed.
“No document has been presented before the court to show why the accused failed to appear,” he said.
The magistrate directed the investigating officer to file before the court a comprehensive medical report from the Aga Khan Hospital where the MP was allegedly admitted.
By Janet Namalwa