Magistrate Kiama withdraws death threat charges against MP Salasya

Magistrate Gladys Nashipai Kiama claims Mumias East MP Peter Salasya (inset) made verbal threats at her. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Former Kakamega Resident Magistrate Gladys Kiama has withdrawn death threat charges against Mumias East MP Peter Kalerwa Salasya.

In a letter seen by The Standard and addressed to the Western Regional Coordinator, Magistrate Kiamah stated that she had decided to withdraw the complaint against MP Salasya and explore an alternative resolution to the matter.

"REF: Inquiry File Number 1/2024, Complaint Gladys Kiama. I am the complainant in the matter against MP Peter Kalerwa Salasya," read the letter dated September 27, 2024.

"I wish to withdraw the said complaint as we consider alternative dispute resolution in a more amicable environment," Kiama continued.

The Magistrate had filed a complaint claiming that her life was threatened, which led to the police summoning the MP to record a statement.

Salasya was subsequently arrested and released on a Sh20,000 cash bail after being questioned about the alleged death threats against the judicial officer.

Kakamega Deputy DCIO Lucy Wamutiro, who handled the questioning, confirmed that Salasya was cooperative throughout the three-hour session.

"We did not encounter any difficulties in extracting the information we needed. We also recorded the magistrate's statement and will move the case to the prosecutor for appropriate action," she said.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had also pledged to work with detectives to ensure justice for their employee, Magistrate Kiama, who had claimed that the MP threatened her following a ruling on November 27 at the Small Claims Court (SCC).

Police investigations revealed that the first-time lawmaker had allegedly called and sent threatening texts to the magistrate on the same day as the ruling. Later that evening, he reportedly posted defamatory comments about her on his Facebook page.

In her judgment, Kiama had ordered Salasya to repay Sh500,000 to his debtor, Robert Lutta, a loan that Salasya had failed to clear.

This case follows another legal issue involving the MP with a Kakamega-based lawyer.

Wafula reported Salasya to the same police station for assault. Wafula accused the MP and two of his aides, including a police officer, of attacking him at a hotel in Kakamega on November 2.

"It was only after other patrons and hotel management intervened that the MP and his aides fled," Wafula stated then.

Subsequently, Wafula sued the MP in a civil case filed on November 3 at the Kakamega Law Courts.

He sought general and punitive damages for defamation, claiming that the MP had used degrading language that tarnished his reputation.

According to Wafula’s court documents, the incident began when Salasya confronted him at a local café, Vovo, hurling insults in Swahili.

 The cafe’s management eventually asked Salasya to leave to restore peace.

However, the insults continued when Wafula and his friends moved to another restaurant, Vault, later that evening.

Disturbed by the MP's behaviour and its impact on his reputation, Wafula filed the lawsuit. Whose judgment is still in the pipeline.