Deputy Inspector-General of police Gilbert Masengeli on Friday got a reprieve in his ongoing court case after High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi granted him a chance to redeem himself.
Masengeli who was last week convicted to a six-month sentence for defying court orders was forced to apologise to the court for not showing up before Justice Mugambi seven times.
The deputy IG, struck an apologetic tone, explaining that his failure to appear before the judge was not a deliberate move, but that he had been out of Nairobi at the time.
“I would like to apologise to the judiciary and court over what transpired. My lord (Justice Mugambi), I respect you. It is my duty to ensure court orders are obeyed,” Masengeli said.
“On August 26 I was at the Coast. I went to Mombasa and Lamu enclave. On August 29, I was in Mpeketoni. On September 3, I was on the Kenya/Somalia border. On September 4, I was enroute to Northern Kenya, My Lord,” he added.
Masengeli who had been the acting IG until the appointment of Douglas Kanja to the position by President William Ruto, had been summoned to explain the whereabouts of three individuals said to have been abducted by the police.
The three, Jamil Longton, his brother Aslam Longton, and activist Bob Njagi, were reportedly abducted on August 19, 2024, amid the Gen Z protests. They were, however, found alive in Kiambu county on Thursday night, according to Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo.
The deputy IG, was accompanied to court by Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, his lawyers Cecil Miller, Danstan Omari as well as State Counsel Emmanuel Mbita and Charles Mutinda.
His six months prison sentence was to start on Thursday at midnight.
During the Thursday court session, Justice Mugambi allowed Masengeli to testify on the position of the abductees, as well as to explain why he snubbed his court summons.
“Having availed himself before the court, I will be disobeying my orders if I deny him the chance to explain himself. Masengeli is entitled to be heard,” the judge said.
“The sentence was not merely punitive but coercive. I will thus allow Masengeli to take to the stand and redeem himself,” he added.
AG Oduor urged the judge to quash the conviction and set aside the six-month jail sentence.
On Thursday, September 19, Mr Masengeli tried unsuccessfully to appear before magistrate Mugambi, but the judge was presiding over another case before a three-member bench.
However, High Court judge Chacha Mwita directed his lawyer Cecil Miller to appear before Justice Mugambi on Friday morning as scheduled.
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