By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The acting Inspector General of Police Mr. Gilbert Masengeli has disagreed with the Chief Justice Hon. Martha Koome over the security withdrawal of Justice Lawrence Mugambi was sentenced the Ag. IG 6 months in Jail for contempt of court.
The National Police Service (NPS) has clarified that the abrupt removal of Justice Lawrence Mugambi’s security personnel, occurring shortly after the sentencing of acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to imprisonment, was a decision made at the discretion of the Inspector General.
The Ag. IG clarified that as per the law, the President, the Deputy President and a Retired President are the only ones entitled to personal security detail and that he reassigned the two officers to attend VIP security courses.
“The responsibility for the Independent command of the National Police Service is vested in the Inspector General and no person may give a direction to the IG with respect to employment, assignment, promotion, suspension or dismissal of any member of the National Police Service, in accordance with Article 245 (4) (c) of the Constitution,” NPS said in a statement.
“The IG is responsible for the security of all Kenyans regardless of their status in the society. Nonetheless the IG may accord additional security detail to specific persons based on the nature of assignments being undertaken by such persons and the threat levels which their responsibilities may attract,” NPS added.
Mr. Masengeli stated that individuals are granted personal security in accordance with the aforementioned criteria and the policies established by the NPS, as well as any determinations made by the IG from time to time.
“The tenure of Judges does not, by that fact alone, include personal security as a matter of law. In line with the VIP Policy, VIPs are protected by Specialized Units including Security of Government,” he said.
The statement came after Chief Justice Hon. Martha Koome said that Justice Mugambi’s security has been withdrawn over the weekend.
She expressed her dissatisfaction and complain by the action taken by the National Police Service to withdraw Mugambi’s detail.
“A disturbing action was taken by the national police in the wake of the sentencing of the acting IG. Police belonging to Mugambi were disarmed and subsequently withdrawn over the weekend,” CJ Koome said.
On Friday 13th August 2024, Justice Mugambi imposed a six-month prison sentence on Masengeli after he was convicted of contempt of court.
He was convicted of contempt for failing to appear at seven court summons to provide information regarding the location of Bob Njagi, Jamil Longton, and his brother Aslam Longton, who disappeared on August 19, 2024 mysteriously.