Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has raised serious concerns over his recent arrest, describing it as a violent abduction by individuals claiming to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The incident occurred on Friday, May 16, along the Isiolo-Nanyuki highway.
According to Salasya, his convoy was ambushed by heavily armed men who shot at his vehicle’s tires, forcing it to a halt. His bodyguards were disarmed, and he was handcuffed and taken to an undisclosed location before being transferred to Nairobi’s Central Police Station. The MP stated, “I was arrested like a robber or a murderer,” emphasizing the excessive force used during the operation.
Salasya’s lawyer, Kennedy Echesa, reported that the MP was detained without being informed of the charges against him. Echesa added that the DCI indicated they were investigating Salasya for publishing false information bordering on ethnic vilification and incitement but failed to provide specific details.
After spending the weekend in custody, Salasya was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, May 19. However, proceedings were delayed due to errors in the charge sheet. Eventually, he was charged with hate speech related to a social media post, which he denies authoring. The court granted him a bond of Ksh500,000 or an alternative cash bail of Ksh200,000.
The MP has since called on the DCI to ensure their officers are properly briefed before conducting arrests, warning that such overzealous tactics risk violating human rights and escalating tensions. He emphasized the need for law enforcement to respect due process and the rights of individuals, regardless of their political affiliations.
