A dramatic exchange unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday when Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was accused of live recording the House proceedings on his mobile phone, in violation of standing orders.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa raised the issue, alleging that Salasya had filmed himself during the session while making inappropriate remarks, contrary to parliamentary regulations. Ichung’wa demanded that the MP 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.
His remarks triggered a heated back-and-forth between Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Salasya, who firmly 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 the House could request access to his phone records or forward his case to the parliamentary disciplinary committee.
“Be honorable, my dear young man! If you are not honourable, 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 as he made fun of the debate, which sought to ascertain the rightful Majority and Minority in Parliament.
Salasya in the clip 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 Ichungwa anakwenda huko, ametusumbua sana huyu mtu akwende huko, kaa huko Ichung’wa.”
