A dramatic confrontation erupted in Parliament on Tuesday when Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was accused of live-streaming the House proceedings using his mobile phone, an act that violates parliamentary standing orders.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa brought the matter to the Speaker’s attention, alleging that Salasya had recorded himself during the session while making inappropriate remarks.

According to Ichung’wa, this behavior was not only against the rules but also disrespectful to the institution.

He demanded that Salasya acknowledge his actions, delete the recordings, and issue a formal apology to Parliament.

Majority Leader Calls for Apology

“On the matter of House decorum, I personally saw Salasya livestreaming the proceedings from the back seat,” Ichung’wa stated.

“The House and the Parliamentary Service Commission already provide official live coverage on television. We cannot allow MPs to belittle this institution through such behavior. Worse still, he was making unpalatable comments on live media. He must be asked to delete the recordings and apologize.”

His statement immediately sparked a heated exchange between Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Salasya, who vehemently denied the accusations.

Speaker Confronts Salasya

The Speaker, determined to get to the bottom of the issue, directly questioned the MP. “Are you livestreaming the proceedings and making inappropriate comments while at it?” Wetang’ula asked.

Instead of providing a clear answer, Salasya responded with a deflection: “Most of the time, I have been staying here without being given time to speak.”

Unconvinced, the Speaker pressed further: “Is what the Majority Leader is saying true?”

Salasya, still avoiding a direct response, claimed ignorance. “I don’t know what he is talking about because I don’t run my social media platforms. I just wanted to contribute to the debate.”

Frustrated by the evasive answers, Speaker Wetang’ula warned the MP about the possible consequences of dishonesty.

He reminded him that Parliament had the authority to request his phone records or even forward the matter to the disciplinary committee for further action.

“Be honorable, my dear young man! If you are not honorable, Parliament can request access to your phone logs and verify what you were doing. If you admit it, the Speaker will take necessary actions. If you continue to deny it, you may find yourself before the Powers and Privileges Committee, facing serious consequences. Dishonesty is not a virtue,” the Speaker cautioned.

Salasya Remains Defiant

Despite the Speaker’s stern warning, Salasya remained unbothered. “I don’t know what he is saying, but maybe I can go, confirm, and check,” he casually replied.

Following this heated back-and-forth, Speaker Wetang’ula instructed the Clerk to retrieve Salasya’s mobile phone for verification.

Caught in the Act on Instagram

Even as the debate raged on in Parliament, Salasya appeared to double down on his actions. He went live on his Instagram account, making fun of the ongoing session, which was discussing the legitimacy of the Majority and Minority positions in Parliament.

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In his livestream, Salasya sarcastically mocked Ichung’wa, saying, “Hapa mambo imechemka! Hatutaki mchezo! We want to show Ichung’wa that I am here in the corner making noise. That has been my job! Today, Ichung’wa is leaving, he has disturbed us for too long, let him go! Stay there, Ichung’wa.”

Possible Disciplinary Action

With the incident now under formal review, Salasya could face disciplinary action if found guilty of violating parliamentary rules.

If referred to the Powers and Privileges Committee, he may be reprimanded, suspended, or subjected to further penalties for misconduct.

Meanwhile, Parliament remains firm in upholding its rules and maintaining decorum in the House, ensuring that such incidents do not undermine the integrity of legislative proceedings.