Published on September 9, 2024 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 2 years by Agencies for Kenya Online News
The Inspector General of Police (IG) Gilbert Masengeli has been found guilty of disobeying court orders.
High Court Judge, Justice Lawrence Mugambi said impunity and open defiance cannot be allowed and those hell-bent won’t find refuge.
Masengeli was required to appear in court on Monday to explain the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of three people in Kitengela.
They went missing on August 19.
Several summons have been issued by the court but Masengeli has snubbed all of them.
On Monday, he sent DIG Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat to represent him saying he was in Wajir over security matters.
But Mugambi in his brief ruling said the IG has held the court at ransom and it is no longer able to ascertain what could have happened to the petitioners.
“Masengeli is guilty of contempt and the court ought to punish him accordingly,” said the Judge.
The Judge at the same time summoned the commandant of the SGB/VIP unit Lazarus Opicho to explain why he called his bodyguard and his driver to establish his whereabouts.
“We need to know the reasons for such an inquiry,” said the judge.
The judge reserved both the sentencing and explanation by Opicho Friday.
Former LSK President Nelson Havi asked Justice Lawrence Mugambi to commit Masengeli to civil jail for a period of six months for defying court orders.
“The conduct of IG must be dealt with by the court and in the strongest terms possible,” he said.
“We ask you to convict the holder of the office of IG for contempt of court. Sentence him to the highest penal consequence. The office he holds is not a personal but public office,” he added.
Chief State counsel Charles Mutinda on the other hand told the court there is no basis for conviction of the acting IG.
“We have offered an explanation and even gone further to have a senior officer appear in court and tender an explanation,” he said.
He explained that Masengeli is in Wajir and was not able to appear in court.
