Acting IG Gilbert Masengeli Found Guilty Of Contempt Of Court

The High Court on Monday, September 9 found Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli guilty of contempt of court.  

This was after the acting IG defied a court summons for the seventh time.

In his ruling, High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi said Masengeli had held the court to ransom and should be punished.

“It is my finding that the Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli is guilty of contempt of court,” said Justice Mugambi.

Masengeli was supposed to appear in court on Monday to explain the abduction of three people in Kitengela, Kajiado County.

However, the acting IG sent Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat to represent him, saying he was in Wajir on security matters and could not be available for questioning.

The three missing persons, Jamil Longton, his brother Aslam Longton, and activist Bob Njagi, were allegedly abducted by suspected police officers on 19 August 2024.

The trio have not been seen since and efforts by their families and friends to find them have been unsuccessful.

Monday's session was the seventh time Masengeli had failed to appear in court.

Lawyer Nelson Havi, who is representing the petitioners in the case, asked Justice Mugambi to send Masengeli to civil prison for a period of six months for disobeying court orders.

Meanwhile, Justice Mugambi summoned the commandant of the Security of Government Buildings (SGB) and VIP Protection Unit Lazarus Opicho to explain why he called his bodyguard and driver to establish his whereabouts before today’s hearing.

The High Court Judge said the sentencing of the Acting Inspector General will take place on Friday, September 9, 2024.