Aston Lukoye
- Masengeli is accused of disrespecting the court by refusing to answer questions of the three Kenyans who disappeared in Kitengela.
- Masengeli will begin serving his sentence seven days after it was read.
Gilbert Masengeli, the acting Inspector General of Police, was sentenced to six months in prison.
Judge Lawrence Mugambi of the Milimani court read the sentence on Friday, he stated that Masengeli attempted to send his deputy in the final stages, but the court ignored the move and ordered him to be held accountable in court.
The judge regretted Masengeli’s decision to mock the court and go to Mombasa for a meeting of high-security personnel.
Masengeli was sentenced for disobeying a court order to appear before Judge Mugambi of the Milimani court to explain the fate of three people, including two brothers, who went missing in the Kitengela area after being apprehended by people claiming to be police officers on June 19 of this year.
Those said to be missing are considered to be among the primary organizers of the protest against President William Ruto’s rejection of the 2024/2025 financial bill.
Masengeli, the Acting Inspector General of Police, failed to appear in court seven times to explain the location of the missing Kenyans in a matter brought before the courts by the Lawyers’ Association of LSK.
The court declared Masengeli guilty of disrespecting the court and directed the minister of internal security, Prof Kithure Kindiki, to ensure that Masengeli meets his sentence in full.
Judge Mugambi has ordered Masengeli to surrender to the commissioner general of prisons so that he can begin serving his sentence; alternatively, the court has requested Prof Kindiki to work with the commissioner general of prisons to ensure that Masengeli does not escape his sentence.
Masengeli’s lawyers informed the court that their client did not attend court because he was leading a meeting of county police chiefs in the coastal county.
Masengeli will begin his six-month prison sentence seven days from the day of sentencing.
