Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli. Photo/courtesy.
Former Nandi Hills Member of Parliament (MP) Alfred Keter has welcomed the court’s move to sentence acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to six months imprisonment.
Keter, through a statement made via his official X account on Friday, September 13, 2024, said that Masengeli should serve his sentence to the fullest.
Rule of law
While arguing that nobody is above the law in the country, Keter stated that Kenyans should stop respecting the rule of law if Masengeli fails to honor the sentence.
“Nobody is above the law; Masengeli must serve his sentence to the fullest! And if he does not? Then from now on, nobody should force anybody to respect the rule of law! All of us as a country must respect the rule of law with no exceptions!” Keter stated. “Masengeli must serve his sentence to the fullest!”
Keter further warned that Masengeli’s actions will inspire more people to disrespect the rule of law.
Maseneli’s defiance
Masengeli failed to appear in court to explain the whereabouts of Kenyans who are still missing after they were abducted due to the widespread anti-government protests.
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Keter is one of the victims of the abductions that were witnessed during the protests. On Sunday, June 30, 2024, he was forcibly abducted by police in plainclothes outside Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kileleshwa as he was leaving the church.
He was taken to Kamkunji Police Station, where he was grilled before being released.
After Kenyans voiced their concerns about Keter’s incident, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a statement shared via social media, clarified that he had been arrested by the National Police Service (NPS) for conspiracy to traffic firearms and incitement.
Masengeli’s sentence
High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi sentenced Masengeli to six months imprisonment on Friday, September 13, 2024, days after he was convicted for contempt of court.
On September 9, 2024, Judge Mugambi said that Masengeli had failed to honour the summons from the court.
Mugambi added that Masengeli’s actions amounted to willful disobedience that undermines the supreme law and administration of justice.
While sentencing him, the judge further ordered Masengeli to surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons to serve his sentence.
Additionally, Mugambi said that in the event he fails to surrender himself to prison, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior must take steps to ensure he is committed to prison to serve his sentence.
Masengeli failed to appear in court for sentencing in a contempt case; his lawyer, Cecil Miller, represented him instead.
