IG Masengeli addressing the media
The head of the National Police Service has explained why he recently withdrew Justice Lawrence Mugambi’s security detail. This was just days after Justice Mugambi had jailed acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli. According to IG Masengeli, the decision was made for operational reasons.
IG Masengeli explained, “The officers were transferred to attend to the VIP security courses.” He said Mugambi was accorded appropriate arrangements over his security.
Masengeli explained the legal provision on personal security details. “Only the President, the Deputy President, and a Retired President have personal security by law,” he said.
He said: “There are others who get personal security on certain basis and guidelines formulated by the NPS.” He disclosed that the tenure of judges does not ipso facto carry with it personal security.
“The VIP policy stipulates that VIPs are protected by Specialized Units including Security of Government,” Masengeli said. He said that NPS values the rule of law and safety of the public.
The Chief Justice Martha Koome reacted to the withdrawal: “A disturbing action was taken by the national police following the sentencing of the acting IG”. Koome reported that police assigned to Mugambi were disarmed and withdrawn over the weekend.
Justice Mugambi last Friday jailed Masengeli for six months for contempt of court. Mugambi ordered Masengeli to present himself before the commissioner general of prisons. Controversies on the withdrawal of security were little laced in the comments on the issue made by Koome. She questioned the motive and timing of the action taken by the police.
