Parliament asked to tame Mumias East MP

Kakamega,

Monday, January 15, 2024

KNA by Moses Wekesa / Trizerbel Mboyi / Stanley Odhiambo

Kakamega County Assembly leadership has warned Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) to desist from his uncalled-for behavior of turning his anger to physical and verbal in attacking Members of County Assembly (MCAs).

Speaking to the media, the Speaker of the County Assembly, James Namatsi, urged the MP and other legislators, to seek redress from the known corridors of justice, should they feel aggrieved by colleagues, instead of taking the law into their own hands.

He expressed concern that such physical attacks and verbal threats, if not controlled, are likely to escalate into physical mayhem and trigger insecurity and disharmony in society.

“This emerging trend of the legislator attacking, intimidating other leaders and acting with impunity in contravention to known laws of the Constitution is uncalled for. It is indeed shameful, regrettable, and worrying,” the County Assembly Speaker said.

“As an Assembly, we are concerned about the behavior of Peter Salasya, bearing in mind that this is not the first time he is attacking members of the County Assembly of Kakamega. Democracy dictates that we be sensitive, considerate, and accommodative to those who hold contrary views.”

Speaker Namatsi regretted that the youthful MP, is letting down his constituents and the country at large, instead of being a role model to the electorates with the position he holds.

“We, therefore, urge relevant authorities, to single out the MP and take action against him to guard against impunity,” he added.

The Mumias MP was on record physically assaulting Malaha-Isongo-Makunga Ward MCA, Peter Walunya, during a funeral on Friday last week in Mumias East.

The MP is also accused of having previously attacked other MCAs during other political events and funerals in his and neighboring constituencies.

During the Homecoming of Khwisero MP, Christopher Aseka, Salasya attacked Kisa Central MCA, Joseph Handman Saya and another County Assembly legislator from the area.

Kakamega County Assembly leader of Majority, Phillip Ondako Maina, said the MP was on record attacking another MCA during the funeral of the Late Kisa East MCA, Stephen Maloba, who was stabbed to death during a confrontation at a political gathering. Salaysa is also accused of attacking two other MCAs on two different occasions.

The County Assembly Majority Leader accused the MP of venting anger towards MCAs and undermining them over unknown reasons causing a rift between him and the County lawmakers.

 “There is a reason why the position was created and the MCAs are voted in by Kenyans just like any other political seat. We have responsibilities to do constitutionally and we serve Kenyans. So if we have leaders from the National Assembly, who do not respect MCAs we will not allow that,” he noted.

He said the MP seems to be misusing his security offered by the government as his bodyguards have fired into the air several times in a bid to disperse the crowd during a confrontation caused by the said Legislator.

“In less than six months, the MP’s security have fired many shots during confrontations in public. We have not witnessed such among other MPs from 2013 to 2017. When these things happen, they happen in gatherings, we have children and elderly women who risk being injured during such physical confrontations yet they were not part of it,” he noted.

Maina noted that if the physical confrontations continue, MCAs might decide to retaliate as a way of protecting themselves which might turn violent, asking the national government to intervene.

He warned that it was during such a confrontation that Kisa East MCA, Stephen Maloba, was stabbed to death.

The MCA for Lumakanda who is also the Chief Whip, Bernard Mulama, asked the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, to summon the MP through the Committee of Power and Privileges and question his uncouth behavior.

 “We want to see the action that the Speaker of the National Assembly will take against the MP. I also urge MPs from western Kenya to come together and talk to Salasya. It is shameful that we western region legislators, are known for fighting in funerals,” He noted.

Special elected MCA, Christine Imbosa Mbogua, regretted that the MP has turned Mumias East Constituency into a battleground for his theatrics, sending shivers among them who now opt to skip events, where he is expected to attend.

She asked the government to consider taking the Legislator for medical assessment and treatment in case it’s a mental health challenge.

She also warned other legislators against undermining nominated MCAs and calling them flower girls, noting that they were nominated on the virtue of being aggressive and supportive to their respective political parties.

 Courtesy; KNA