In a landmark ruling, the Kenyan High Court in Nairobi has sentenced Acting Inspector-General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, to six months in prison for contempt of court.
The police chief repeatedly failed to appear before the court to testify regarding the whereabouts of three missing men allegedly abducted by state agents.
The court had summoned Masengeli to explain the fate of two brothers, Jamil and Aslam Longton, and an activist, Bob Njagi, all vocal supporters of the anti-government protests that took place in June and July. These protests led to numerous reported abductions by state security forces, with some detainees being released while others remain held incommunicado.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi, presiding over the case, gave Masengeli a week to surrender himself to the Commissioner-General of Prisons to begin serving his sentence. However, the judge suspended the sentence for seven days to allow the Acting IGP one final opportunity to appear in court before facing imprisonment.
Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, has been ordered by the judge to ensure that Masengeli is imprisoned if he does not voluntarily surrender. In his ruling, Justice Mugambi stated, “Mr. Gilbert Masengeli is sentenced to six months imprisonment and must submit himself to the Commissioner of Kenya Prisons to serve his sentence.”
The court’s decision came after Masengeli ignored six consecutive summonses to appear. His legal team had sought a suspension of the contempt verdict, citing ongoing efforts to locate the missing activists.
