The Commissioner General of Prisons has ordered Ag IG of NPS Gilbert Masengeli to appear in person to begin serving his six-month sentence.
CS Interior has been ordered to effect the move. Justice Lawrence Mugambi made a courageous choice after Masengeli failed to appear eight times in court.
His conviction for contempt of court required him to appear before Justice Lawrence Mugambi to receive his sentence.
In spite of seven court orders, Masengeli did not show up before the judge to explain the whereabouts of three individuals: two brothers named Jamil Longton and Aslam Longton, and an activist named Bob Njagi.
The judge declared in a Monday statement, “I hereby find that Masengeli is guilty of contempt of court and consequently convict him.”
The judge denied Eliud Lagat, the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Department, an audience after appearing in court on Masengeli’s behalf.
The judge maintained that his instructions were precise and that the acting Inspector General should come before him.
Jamil and Aslam were kidnapped in Kitengela, which is located in Kajiado County, while Njagi was kidnapped at Mlolongo while riding on a matatu that was headed towards Kitengela.
As a result, their relatives submitted a petition to the High Court, asking for orders that would require the police to bring the three individuals in court, regardless of whether they were alive or dead.
Despite receiving permission, the police refused to carry out the instructions because the three people were not in their custody.
Lawyer Kevin Oriri says that if Masengeli doesn’t show up in court to explain himself, Justice Mugambi has no choice but to punish him.
If he appears in court, he will have the chance to explain to the judge why he failed to appear despite receiving numerous summonses, and the judge will decide whether or not to accept his explanation.
