A hate speech case against Mumias East MP Peter Salasya by has been withdrawn after a Nairobi court found that the lawmaker had met all the terms of an earlier agreement with the court and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
The lawmaker is on spot over May 2025 inflammatory remarks targeting members of a specific community in Kenya, that he shared on social media.
He had two weeks ago sought withdrawal of the case, citing a November 17, 2025 conciliation agreement with NCIC but the court rejected the application over lack of evidence to show that the conditions therein had been fully met.
Senior Resident Magistrate Paul Mutai directed that within 14 days, the MP and NCIC hold a joint, well publicized press conference at a venue to be communicated by NCIC, during which the MP will apologize.
Salasya was to additionally run a social media peace campaign.
“I direct that evidence of such activities be provided. I will look at the press conference evidence and social media campaigns advocating for peace before I adopt this agreement,” Magistrate Mutai ruled on January 19.
The court had in October 2025 allowed the prosecution to forward the file to NCIC for assessment and recommendation after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the agency needed time to evaluate the case and advise appropriate action.
Immediately after the court issued fresh directives, Salasya announced a nationwide peace campaign in compliance with the court orders.
“This peace campaign will be non-partisan, inclusive and people centered…Its sole purpose is to promote national unity, coexistence and stability,” he shared on X.
While asking faith-based institutions, lobbies, youth and well-wishers to support the initiative through resources and ideas, Salasya committed to conducting the campaign with discipline, humility, transparency and respect for the law.
He would six days later, undertake a peace and cohesion forum at Jacaranda grounds that NCIC reported having engaged over 1000 participants, mainly the young people.
“The forum focused on peaceful coexistence, responsible social media use and rejection of divisive rhetoric,” NCIC shared later that day.
The following day, Salasya said the event was a testament that he was a law-abiding citizen. “No one has ever done it. I will move from county to county to ensure we preach peace and unity amongst communities. We shall keep working together with NCIC”.
But despite the assurance of a nationwide peace campaign, the MP appeared on an NTV show three days later with a colleague from Kiambu County, where he briefly championed peace.
During mentioning of the case on Monday, the court found sufficient evidence the MP took part in peacebuilding initiatives that reached at least 1000 people, consequently approving the withdrawal of the case.
The DPP told the court the matter had been resolved amicably outside of a full criminal trial as part of a settlement with the NCIC focused on promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.
“This outcome is not a personal victory but victory to constitutionalism, judicial independence and democracy in Kenya…I remain committed to peace, unity and the democratic values that bind us as one people,” Salasya shared after the withdrawal of the case.
