Judicial Commission speaks after MP Peter Salasya threatened judge’s life
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) broke its silence after it emerged that Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya threatened the life of a judge presiding over a case in which he is a party.
In their November 29, 2023, statement, the JSC said it was in receipt of information that Mr Salasya had threatened, intimidated, and harassed the magistrate during and after the hearing of the case in which he was the accused.
“These persistent threats during the hearing and after delivery of the judgment have been reported to the Kakamega Central Police Station. The Commission condemns such acts in the strongest terms possible.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 entrenches the independence of the Judiciary, which is only subject to the Constitution and the law and is not subject to the control or direction of any person or authority,” said the Commission in part.
The statement went on to say that any interference with the independence of the Judiciary, any judge or judicial officer is an affront to the Constitution of Kenya, and all state officers, including Members of Parliament, took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
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“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…when litigants are aggrieved by the decision of the court, they may seek redress through the appellate process,” added the Commission.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that MP Salasya threatened to kill Magistrate Gladys Kiama of the Kakamega Small Claims Court. The judge had directed him to pay a businessman, Robert Lutta, a Sh 500,000 debt and cost of the case.
Mr Lutta and Mr Salasya fell out after he loaned the money to the politician on December 13, 2022, with the agreement it would be repaid after two months. Mr Salasya failed to refund the money, denying he had ever borrowed money but countered that he had instead loaned Mr Lutta Sh 1 million.
Following the judge’s ruling, MP Salasya stormed out of the courtroom where he later confronted her and threatened to kill her before taking off.
In her ruling, the judge stated that she saw no supporting evidence from Salasya to prove that Mr Lutta had borrowed him money.
Investigations are ongoing.
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