A court in Nairobi has ordered Mumias East MP Peter Salasya to run an online peace campaign and issue a public apology before his hate speech case can be withdrawn, following a conciliation agreement with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Senior Resident Magistrate Paul Mutai directed that Salasya must demonstrate compliance with the settlement within 14 days, warning that the prosecution cannot withdraw the case until the court is satisfied that all agreed terms have been met.
The ruling came after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through prosecution counsel Nora Achieng, applied to terminate the proceedings, citing the out-of-court agreement aimed at promoting reconciliation and national cohesion rather than pursuing a full trial.
Magistrate Mutai, however, insisted on verifying compliance first, setting February 2 as the next mention date to confirm whether Salasya has fulfilled the obligations.
“The court will not terminate the proceedings until there is confirmation of compliance,” Mutai emphasized.
In addition to the online peace campaign, Salasya is required to hold a public press conference to promote peace, cohesion, and national integration, as part of the conciliation terms agreed with NCIC.
The hate speech case dates back to May 19, 2025, when Salasya was charged with making inflammatory remarks on social media, allegedly targeting a specific community.
The prosecution has maintained that the statements amounted to incitement and hate speech, prompting referral of the matter to NCIC in October 2025 for review and recommendations.
State Prosecutor Virginia Kariuki explained that NCIC’s role is advisory, focusing on promoting reconciliation and cohesion, rather than determining guilt or innocence.
The court clarified that this referral would not create a parallel judicial process, and compliance with the settlement remains a precondition for withdrawing the case.
As it stands, the case remains active, with Salasya required to demonstrate that he has participated in the peace campaign and held the public briefing before the prosecution can formally drop the charges.
