The High Court has sentenced Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to six months in prison for contempt of court.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi delivered the ruling after Masengeli failed to appear in court on multiple occasions to explain the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of three individuals in Kitengela, who went missing on August 19.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Gilbert Masengeli failed to appear in court to address the issue, instead sending Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to represent him.
Lagat claimed Masengeli was in Wajir on security matters. However, Justice Mugambi stated that Masengeli had effectively held the court at ransom, making it impossible to ascertain the fate of the missing persons.
During the sentencing, Justice Mugambi ordered Masengeli to submit himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons.
He emphasized that if Masengeli fails to do so, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior must ensure his commitment to prison.
However, the judge suspended the sentence for seven days, allowing Masengeli the opportunity to appear in court and redeem himself by addressing the issues he has been avoiding.
Before the sentencing, Masengeli, through his advocates Cecil Miller and Steve Ogolla, expressed regret for his non-attendance in court.
They argued that he was unable to appear due to the demands of his work. Despite their pleas, Justice Mugambi declined to suspend the sentence, stating he had given Masengeli ample opportunities to comply with court orders.
Implications of the Ruling
The case has raised concerns about accountability within the police force, particularly regarding the handling of cases involving missing persons.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Masengeli will take the necessary steps to avoid serving his sentence.