Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has been sentenced to six months in prison after he was found guilty of contempt of court.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ordered Masengeli to surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons.
However, the court has given him a chance to avoid the sentence. If Masengeli appears in court within the next seven days, he can explain the whereabouts of the three missing persons from Kitengela. If he does not comply, the sentence will take effect, and Interior CS Kindiki Kithure will be required to enforce it.
Masengeli had made several attempts to avoid sentencing. Through his lawyers, Cecil Miller and Steve Ogolla, he expressed regret for missing earlier court appearances. He claimed his absence was due to the demands of his job. Despite these efforts, Justice Mugambi said the court had already given him multiple opportunities to comply.
The case revolves around three people who went missing in Kitengela on August 19. The court had issued several summonses for Masengeli to provide an explanation, all of which he ignored. On Monday, he sent Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat to represent him, citing security duties in Wajir as the reason for his absence. The judge, however, found this response inadequate and held Masengeli in contempt.
Masengeli has seven days to decide whether to appear in court and provide the required explanation or face imprisonment.
By Vivian K.