Following the sentencing of Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli to six months in prison, leaders from the Western region have spoken out in his defence.
High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi handed down the sentence after Masengeli repeatedly ignored court summonses – seven times in total – regarding the disappearance of an activist and two brothers.
Saboti MP Hon Caleb Amisi. Photo: Caleb Amisi Source: Facebook
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, speaking on Friday, suggested that Masengeli was being unfairly targeted due to political tensions between President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. Amisi insisted that the Acting IG should not be made to answer for the failures of former Inspector General Japhet Koome, who held office during the incidents in question.
“The one who should be facing the court is Koome,” Amisi said. “People died under his watch, not Masengeli’s. He shouldn’t be made the scapegoat for mistakes made by the previous regime. Koome should bear responsibility for his own actions.”
Acting IG of police Gilbert Masengeli during a past media presser. Photo: Citizen Digital Source: Facebook
The case revolves around the disappearance of three people in Kitengela on 19 August, which Masengeli was expected to address in court. His failure to attend hearings led Judge Mugambi to declare that the Acting IG had effectively held the court hostage, making it impossible to move forward with the case.
Masengeli has been given seven days to surrender to the Commissioner General of Prisons. If he fails to do so, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has been ordered to ensure his imprisonment.
By the time of publication, Masengeli had not responded to the ruling. However, earlier in the day, he was pictured awarding certificates at a police commanders’ course in Ngong, Nairobi County, as part of his official duties.
