Peter Salasya: MP Sparks Controversy and Admiration in Equal Doses
Ever since his inauguration as Member of Parliament for the Mumias East Constituency, Peter Salasya has been frequently in the public eye for a variety of reasons.
Already, the juvenile first-term member of parliament has established a reputation for ceaselessly sowing discord both within and beyond the chamber of Parliament.
Despite being embroiled in a series of controversies, Salasya was ranked fourth in a recent Infortrak poll as one of the most effective youthful Members of Parliament in the nation.
Salasya surpassed campaign politicians in national rankings of the most effective legislators.
Regardless of the ranking, Salasya was assaulted and expelled from a church service at Bukaya Catholic Church in Mumias West Constituency over the weekend by disorderly adolescents believed to be supporters of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.
Salasya, an ardent critic of Barasa, was delivering a speech when a man with ties to the county leader seized the microphone and abruptly terminated it.
As the host, Member of Parliament for Mumias West Johnstone Naika, and other visitors, including the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula and Barasa, observed, fighting broke out and more individuals joined in.
As Salasya’s bodyguards evacuated the members of parliament, they were compelled to discharge firearms into the air.
The incident occurred within weeks of a Kakamega County attorney filing a lawsuit against Salasya, alleging that he verbally and physically assaulted him.
The member of parliament purportedly engaged in an altercation with the attorney over the legislative representative’s alleged failure to repay a loan of Sh500,000 that was extended to him during the August 2022 elections.
Advocacy Edwin Wawire Wafula petitioned the court, alleging that Salasya assaulted him twice in Kakamega while he was advocating for the purported creditor, Robert Malenya Lutta.
Regarding this, Resident Magistrate Gladys Kiama is present.
Initiating legal action against Salasya, Lutta filed a petition with the minor claims court.
Immediately following his election as a member of parliament, Salasya disclosed to the general populace the attributes he admires in a spouse.
“An educated lady between 23-26 years old. Not one who will keep checking on my phone because simu za wababa ziko na scandals mob (men’s phones are full-on scandals),” he said.
“She should also be ready to stay in the village, akichunga (looking after the) constituency.”
When Salasya made sexually derogatory remarks about Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir alias Toto in February, he incited controversy.
Salasya criticized the female representative from Bomet for her lack of deference to opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“… And those young people who are abusing Baba… There is one who was voted in but did not have any money like Peter Salasya. She is called Toto. I will go and impregnate her next week,” the MP said.
However, the representative would express regret for his feelings and seek reconciliation with Toto.
Esther Passaris, a female representative from Nairobi, defended Salasya in September following his viral interview regarding climate change awareness.
According to Passaris, the Member of Parliament’s performance for the Mumias East constituency should be evaluated rather than his ignorance of climate change issues.
She stated that Salasya is primarily concerned with revitalizing the sugar industry in his region, a plan that has the potential to generate jobs for his people.
“Unemployment being an issue among the youths some are not able to relate between it and climate change,” Passaris said.
The lawmaker faced censure due to his inadequate understanding of climate change issues.
Several elected leaders, including Salasya, were in attendance at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre for the Africa Climate Summit.
A month later, Salasya has once again generated considerable online controversy.
The Kenyan internet was in a frenzy after the lawmaker was photographed consuming uncooked termites.
Commonly known as “Chiswa” or “kumbe kumbe” among the Luhya, these insects are typically prepared as a culinary item through frying or roasting. However, there are instances in which they are consumed uncooked.
The politician encountered criticism regarding what internet users refer to as “village mentality.”
Salasya was ranked alongside Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Naisula Lesuuda (SamburuWest) as Kenya’s most effective youthful leaders at the beginning of November.
According to a survey conducted by Infotrak, Nyoro topped the list of the top 10 performing youthful MPs in 2023 with an average score of 70%.
Paul Mwirigi, a Member of Parliament for Igembe South, tied for second place with Christopher Wangaya (Khwisero) at 66%. Salasya occupied the fourth position with 64%.
Peter Salasya: MP Sparks Controversy and Admiration in Equal Doses
