Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli has been handed a six-month prison sentence after being found guilty of contempt of court.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi, presiding over the case, issued a clear directive to Masengeli. The judge ordered the police boss to voluntarily surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons within a seven-day timeframe.
Mugambi, however, said that Masengeli may avoid serving the sentence if he appears in court within the next seven days.
CS Kithure Kindiki Ordered to Ensure Prison Sentence is Served
The court’s ruling included a contingency plan in case of non-compliance. Should Masengeli fail to turn himself in, the responsibility would shift to a high-ranking government official. As Justice Mugambi stated:
“If Masengeli fails to surrender himself to prison, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki must take steps to ensure he is committed to prison to serve his sentence.”
This provision ensures that the sentence will be carried out, even if it requires intervention from the upper echelons of government.
Judicial Statement
In explaining the rationale behind the sentence, Justice Mugambi emphasized that the court’s intention was not purely punitive.
He clarified:
“Mr Gilbert Masengeli is sentenced to six months imprisonment, he is ordered to submit himself to the Commissioner of Kenya Prisons to ensure he is committed to a prison facility to commence serving sentence. The court nevertheless finds it desirable to impose this sentence as a coercive order as opposed to a punitive order. Mr Masengeli may avoid serving this sentence and in that regard suspend this sentencing for seven days only.”
