Blow for Masengeli as 6-Month Jail Term Set to Kick Off

Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli during a past event.
Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli during a past event.
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National Police Service

Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli's request to appear before Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Thursday was rejected since he was engaged in another matter.

Masengeli, who through his lawyers Steve Ogolla and Cecil Miller, had petitioned the court asking to be allowed to appear in court today between 12 pm and 2 pm as his six-month sentence was slated to kick off on Friday. 

The lawyers acting on behalf of Masengeli had presented their prayers before High Court presiding judge Chacha Mwita who declined to grant his request to appear before Lawrence Mugambi for apology.

Instead, Mwita directed that his application be placed before Judge Mugambi on Friday for further directions.

Lawrence
High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi.
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File

As a result, Masengeli is slated to appear before Mugambi tomorrow for directions on lifting his six-month prison sentence after he got convicted for snubbing court summons seven times.

All focus will shift to the court tomorrow on how it will handle the case because his conviction has been a subject of criticism and condemnation from civil groups.

Masengeli's woes mounted when he decided to withdraw security officers offering protection to justice Mugambi maintaining that the officers had been recalled for advanced training.

"The two officers, being general duty officers, were recalled for the purpose of attending VIP security courses," stated Masengeli.

"We are aware that suitable arrangements were made to ensure Hon. Mugambi's security was always assured."

Yesterday, Masengeli had filed an appeal at the High Court seeking to subvert a recent ruling that sentenced him to a six-month imprisonment.

In the petition, the police boss argued that the ruling was made without considering the application he filed before the court.

Masengeli faulted Justice Lawrence Mugambi for sentencing him despite his earlier response to the court stating that the victims were not under police custody.

The Court of Appeal, however, declined the application seeking to suspend the jail term.

Entrance to Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi.
Entrance to Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi.
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The Judiciary of Kenya.