Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has been convicted of contempt of court after failing to honour court summons.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi while delivering the verdict on Monday stated that officers entrusted with public offices like the acting IG must abide by the constitution.
“It is the responsibility of the court to restore public confidence with the courts. IG may be removed from office if proven that he undermines the constitution,” stated Justice Mugambi.
“The conduct of the first respondent has held this court at ransom.”
State counsel acting on his behalf told the court on Monday that the now-seemingly defiant acting IG is still engaged in operational activities in Wajir and cannot avail himself.
Masengeli’s no-show comes despite his request that he be granted an extension for appearing on Monday as Counsel Wanjiku Mwangi said that he was on official duty in Mombasa.
The petitioners, through lawyer Nelson Havi, questioned how long the court will allow the acting IG to ignore court summons at his and even send his deputy to appear on his behalf.
Lawyer Havi proposed that due to his brazen defiance, Masengeli should be convicted and ousted from office.
“At the end of this, we will ask the court to do two fundamental things; to convict the acting IG for contempt of court and sentence him to the highest permissible legal consequence,” he added.
“We ant Gilbert Masengeli not to hold public office because it is not his personal property. Masengeli was attending a concert. In Kenya, a concert is treated as a matter of national importance. How shameful!”
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo echoed Havi’s sentiments, adding that the reasons behind Masengeli’s absence from court do no hold water.
“The acting IG was at the coast last week taking pictures and having a tete-a-tete instead of obeying court orders,” she noted.
Masengeli is expected to explain the whereabouts of three individuals: Jamil Longton, his brother Aslam Longton, and activist Bob Njagi, who were reportedly abducted by individuals believed to be police officers on august 19, 2024, amid the Gen Z protests.
