Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has been freed on KES 200,000 cash bail after being charged with hate speech, but it’s the way he was arrested that has Kenya talking.
Appearing at Milimani Law Courts, Salasya’s legal team slammed the arrest as “barbaric” — claiming their client was ambushed by men claiming to be DCI officers, who shot at his car, deflated his tyres, and abducted him without ID.
“They came masked, about 15 of them, heavily armed with AK-47s. They intercepted my convoy on the highway after my Isiolo tour, disarmed my security and opened fire,” Salasya tweeted after his release.
His lawyer, Ken Echesa, added that Salasya was denied access to legal counsel during the arrest and demanded that his bodyguards be reinstated for his safety.
“Using the police to abduct young leaders with 2027 ambitions is uncalled for,” Echesa said outside court, calling the arrest politically motivated.
💬 Salasya Speaks
Salasya, visibly shaken but defiant, told journalists:
“I was arrested like a robber. Hii sio sheria, hii ni showbiz ya system.”
He vowed not to be silenced, insisting his freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution.
🚨 The Bigger Picture
This case is quickly becoming more than just a court matter — it’s a lightning rod in Kenya’s political climate. Is it about hate speech, or is it a tactic to silence rising voices in youth-led politics?
As the case unfolds, one thing’s clear: Salasya’s fire hasn’t dimmed.
