The High Court has sentenced Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli to six months in prison after finding him guilty of contempt of court. Justice Lawrence Mugambi ordered that Masengeli present himself to the commissioner general of prisons.
“In the event he doesn’t submit himself, the CS for Interior must take all necessary steps to ensure he is committed to prison to serve the sentence,” the Judge stated.
However, Mugambi noted that Masengeli could avoid serving the sentence if he appears in court within the next seven days. “Masengeli can redeem himself by availing himself before this court in person to answer the issues he has been avoiding. Failure to do so will result in the sentence becoming effective,” the Judge warned.
Before the sentencing, Masengeli made a last-minute attempt to stop it. Represented by advocates Cecil Miller and Steve Ogolla, Masengeli expressed regret for his failure to attend court. After ignoring several summonses, Masengeli affirmed his respect for the court, recognizing its dignity and authority.
Miller urged the Judge to suspend the sentence, explaining that Masengeli had been unable to attend due to the demands of his work. However, the Judge declined, stating, “As a court, I wouldn’t want to be unfair to anyone. I’ve done more than I could to accommodate him. I gave him more than fair chances. I even accommodated him on the last day.”
On Monday, Masengeli was found guilty of contempt for failing to appear in court to explain the disappearance of three people in Kitengela, who went missing on August 19. Despite several summonses, Masengeli did not attend, sending DIG Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat on Monday to represent him, claiming he was in Wajir on 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.
