NAIROBI, KENYA – Mumias East Member of Parliament, Hon. Peter Kalerwa Salasya, has been formally charged with hate speech, in a case brought by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Peter Mutai, the outspoken legislator pleaded not guilty to charges of publishing remarks deemed likely to incite ethnic hatred, in contravention of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Act.
According to the prosecution, led by Ms. Stellah Oyagi, the offence was allegedly committed on May 10, 2025, through Hon. Salasya’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account, @pksalasya.
The inciteful content, said to have been posted at an undisclosed location within Kenya, has since sparked public debate and criticism from various quarters.
The court granted the MP a cash bail of Ksh. 200,000 or an alternative surety bond of Ksh. 400,000, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The matter is set for mention on June 4, 2025, for further directions.
This case marks yet another instance of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission tightening its grip on online conduct, especially by public figures, amid rising concerns over the misuse of digital platforms to promote hate speech and ethnic division.
By Kelly Were
