Acting IG Gilbert Masengeli Found Guilty Of Contempt Of Court
On Monday, September 9, the High Court ruled that Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli was guilty of contempt.
This judgment came after Masengeli ignored a court summons for the seventh time. High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the acting IG had undermined the authority of the court and deserved punishment.
“I find Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli guilty of contempt,” Justice Mugambi stated.
Masengeli had been required to appear in court to account for the kidnapping of three individuals in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
Instead, he dispatched Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat to speak on his behalf, citing his absence due to security duties in Wajir, which prevented him from attending.
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The missing individuals, Jamil Longton, his brother Aslam Longton, and activist Bob Njagi, were reportedly abducted by suspected police officers on August 19, 2024.
Since then, there has been no trace of the three, despite their families and friends’ efforts to locate them.
This marked the seventh instance in which Masengeli failed to attend court proceedings.
Nelson Havi, the lawyer representing the petitioners, urged the court to sentence Masengeli to six months in civil prison for disregarding court directives.
In addition, Justice Mugambi summoned Lazarus Opicho, head of the Security of Government Buildings (SGB) and VIP Protection Unit, to explain why he contacted his bodyguard and driver to check his whereabouts before the hearing.
The court set the sentencing of Acting Inspector General Masengeli for Friday, September 9, 2024.
Acting IG Gilbert Masengeli Found Guilty Of Contempt Of Court
