MP Peter Salasya Faces Backlash for Live Streaming and Mocking Parliament Proceedings
MP Salasya in Trouble for Live Streaming and Making Fun of Parliament Proceedings
A dramatic exchange unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday when Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was accused of violating parliamentary standing orders by live recording the House proceedings on his mobile phone.
National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wa, raised the issue, alleging that Salasya filmed himself during the session while making inappropriate remarks, contrary to parliamentary regulations. Ichung’wa called on Salasya to acknowledge his actions and issue an apology.
“On the matter of decorum of the House, I saw Salasya livestreaming the proceedings and recording himself from the back seat. The House and the Parliamentary Service Commission provide live coverage on TV, and we cannot belittle this institution through such uncouth behaviour. He was saying very unpalatable things on live media, and we require that you ask him to delete those media and apologize to the House,” Ichung’wa stated.
This sparked a heated exchange between Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Salasya, who strongly denied the allegations.
“Are you livestreaming proceedings and making unpalatable comments along the way?” Wetang’ula asked.
Salasya responded, “Most of the time I have been staying here without being given time?”
Unconvinced, the Speaker pressed further: “Is what is being said correct?”
“I don’t know what he is talking about because I don’t run my social media platforms. What I wanted is to have my own contributions,” Salasya argued.
A visibly frustrated Wetang’ula urged the MP to be truthful, warning that Parliament could request access to his phone records or refer the case to the parliamentary disciplinary committee.
“Be honorable, my dear young man! If you are not honorable, it is very easy for Parliament to ask for the logs in your phone and see what you are doing. If you say it is true, then the Speaker will take other remedial actions. If you don’t, it is a matter that you can find your way to the Powers and Privileges Committee with an intended consequence… Dishonesty is not a virtue,” the Speaker warned.
Salasya, maintaining an unbothered attitude, responded, “I don’t know what he is saying, but maybe I can go, confirm, and check what he is saying.”
Following the heated exchange, the Speaker directed the Clerk to obtain Salasya’s mobile device for verification.
During the proceedings, the controversial MP went live on his Instagram account, mocking the debate over the rightful Majority and Minority in Parliament.
In the clip, Salasya said, “Hapa mambo imechemka hatutaki mchezo, we want to show Ichung’wa nimekaa kwa corner nikipiga nduru, nimekaa hapa kwa corner kazi yangu nikupiga kelele. Leo Ichung’wa anakwenda huko, ametusumbua sana huyu mtu akwende huko, kaa huko Ichung’wa.”
The incident has drawn significant attention and raised questions about the conduct of MPs during parliamentary sessions. With parliamentary decorum at stake, Speaker Wetang’ula’s move to verify Salasya’s phone records could have serious implications if the allegations are confirmed.
MP Peter Salasya Faces Backlash for Live Streaming and Mocking Parliament Proceedings