JSC condemns Salasya for threatening Magistrate over Sh500,000 ruling

Kakamega Small Claims Court Magistrate Gladys Kiama and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya. [File, Standard]

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has faulted Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya for attacking Kakamega Small Claims Court Magistrate Gladys Kiama.

The Magistrate recorded a statement at the Kakamega Police Station where she reported that the MP confronted her outside the courtroom, threatening to kill her before taking off.

"He confronted her outside the courtroom and threatened to kill her and then took off," reads part of the report.

This is after the Kiama ordered Salasya to pay businessman Robert Lutta the Sh500,000 that he owed.

Lutta went to the Small Claims Court seeking to have Salasya compelled to pay back the money with interest.

In his defense, the Mumias East MP instead argued that he was the one who loaned Lutta Sh1 million through his political advisor Bernard Kemba.

The MP is also said to have threatened her over calls and text messages as well as a social media post.

"The Commission condemns such acts in the strongest terms possible," JSC said.

It added: "Any attempt to interfere with the independence of the Judiciary, including decisional independence of any Judge or Judicial Officer is an affront to the Constitution of Kenya, which all state officers such as Members of Parliament took oath to protect and defend."

The Judicial Service Commission says that Salasya sent the treats during the hearing and after the delivery of the judgment.

"The commission has deployed its team to the ground to conduct further investigations and engage the agencies handling the matter with a view of taking appropriate action in line with its mandate," says JSC.

It called for the respect and protection of the decisional independence of judicial officers, saying that when a court's decision aggrieves litigants, they should seek redress through the appellate process.

"The Commission wishes to reassure all Judges, Judicial officers, and staff of its continued commitment to protect and safeguard the independence of the Judiciary."