‘Masengeli is Being Framed to Cover for Koome’- Western MPs Rally Behind Acting IG
Hours after High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi sentenced Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli to six months imprisonment, leaders from the Western region have come forward to defend him.
The judge sentenced the Acting Inspector General for contempt of court after ignoring court summons a record seven times which made it difficult to facilitate justice in a case where the top cop was expected to explain the disappearance of an activist and two brothers.
Reacting to the sentencing, Western leaders led by Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi on Friday alleged that IG Masengeli is being dragged in the tiff between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
The MP went ahead to allege that Masengeli’s problems are politically instigated and that the acting IG should not carry former Inspector General Japhet Koome’s cross.
Saboti Mp, Caleb Amisi speaks during a conference in Ghana
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Caleb Amisi
“The person who should appear before the court to be grilled is Koome, people died during Koome’s reign, not Masengeli’s reign.
” Masengeli cannot be a sacrificial lamb for the mistakes that were done by the past police regime. Koome must carry his cross alone.” MP Caleb Amisi claimed.
According to the MP, the court is being used to force Masengeli to take accountability for the deaths that took place during the Gen Z protests.
Masengeli was required to appear in court to explain the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of three people in Kitengela who went missing on August 19.
In his ruling, Judge Mugambi said the IG held the court at ransom and it was no longer able to ascertain what could have happened to the petitioners.
“Masengeli is guilty of contempt and the court ought to punish him accordingly,” Justice Mugambi ruled on Friday.
Masengeli has been given seven days to surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons. The judge also ordered Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to take steps to ensure Masengeli is committed to prison to serve his sentence in the event he fails to surrender himself.
By the time of publishing this article, Masengeli was yet to comment on the ruling. However, earlier in the day, the National Police Service (NPS) shared images of the Acting IG awarding certificates at the closing ceremony of the Sub-County Police Commanders (SCPC) Course at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA) in Ngong, Nairobi County.
Acting IG awarding certificates at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA) in Ngong, 13 September 2024.
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NPS
