Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Kalerwa Salasya spent the night in a police cell after he was arrested on Friday evening for allegedly assaulting a county assembly member in Kakamega.
His two bodyguards were also arrested and disarmed after they fired into the air during a drama at a funeral.
In a statement on Saturday, police said that Salasya was released on Sh50,000 cash bail on January 13, pending his arraignment on Tuesday, January 16.
“Kindly be informed that the MP has been released today the 13th day of January 2024 on cash bail of Sh50,000 to appear in Senior Principals Magistrates Court Mumias on Tuesday the 16th of January 2024 to answer to the charges of Assault causing actual bodily harm contrary,” part of the statement read.
Police further said that the guns of his two bodyguards would be tested and undergo ballistic analysis after they fired four shots in the air.
“His two security detail have been disarmed and their firearms are awaiting ballistic analysis,” the statement added.
This comes after they fired into the air during the commotion during which members of the public intervened and pulled Indimuli to safety within the family compound.
Salasya is accused of attacking and assaulting Malaha/Isongo Ward MCA Peter Walunya Indimuli at a funeral in a drama caught on camera.
Indimuli reported to police at Shianda police station that he and other mourners were attending the funeral of Jesmus Kodia in Maraba village and he had taken the podium to welcome Salasya, who is the area MP.
He said he asked the MP to maintain decorum in his speech, but instead the MP shouted at him and ordered him to sit down.
Indimuli said he welcomed Salasya to the podium at the burial of Dr. Harrison Kodia’s wife and requested the MP to respect the family’s grief in his remarks. However, Salasya reportedly responded arrogantly, sparking unrest among mourners. The situation swiftly escalated, culminating in Salasya allegedly physically assaulting Indimuli with blows and slaps.
Police said he would be charged with assault and causing actual bodily harm contrary to Section 251 of the Penal Code and causing a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace contrary to Section 95 (1)(b) of the Penal Code.
Police officers from Shianda Police Station quickly arrived at the scene, led by the SCPC Mumias East and SCCIO Mumias East. The situation was eventually brought under control.
During the Friday drama, the legislator was captured in a video clip that has gone viral on social physically assaulting the MCA.
In the clip, Salasya can be seen addressing mourners gathered at the event, moments later his attention shifts to an individual outside the camera’s field of view whom the legislator repeatedly implores to sit down so that he can continue with his address.
The MP then jumps and slaps him before security forces intervened which forced other mourners to flee the area as gunshots were heard.
Police from Shianda rushed to the scene and restored calm, allowing the funeral to continue.
After the MCA reported the matter, he was asked to process his P3 form before the MP was then tracked down and arrested.
The controversial legislator is yet to respond to queries about the drama.
The first-time MP is no stranger to controversy as he is currently under investigation for allegedly threatening a magistrate in a case in Mumias.
He has also been involved in a number of dramatic incidents in the area, amid calls for him to be held accountable.
In November 2023, Salasya was attacked and ejected from a church function by rowdy youths said to be supporters of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa during a Sunday service at Bukaya Catholic Church.
His bodyguards were forced to shoot in the air as they evacuated the legislator.
Chaos erupted after the MP blamed the Kakamega County government for failing to revive the collapsed Mumias Sugar Company before a man grabbed the microphone from the lawmaker.
In yet another incident in May 2023, Salasya attacked several MCAs after they attempted to bar him from speaking at the funeral of former MCA Stephen Maloba in Khwisero.
