The security assigned to High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi has been withdrawn instantly. This action was taken after he sentenced Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli. He sentenced him to 6 months in prison for contempt of court.
Mugambi had raised concerns about being surveilled by police officers about multiple summonses of the acting IG. Senior police officers had made inquiries about Mugambi’s whereabouts, contacting his driver and bodyguard.
The controversy involved the commandant of Security of Government Buildings, Lazarus Opicho. He had been calling the judge’s driver and bodyguard. Opicho explained in court that the calls were made out of genuine security concerns.
The calls followed a shooting incident at Makadara Law Courts. He apologized to Judge Mugambi for not contacting him directly and promised to be more direct in the future.
Despite being convicted, Masengeli has not started serving his sentence and has been given seven days to show himself. He was summoned to court. He had to answer for the abductions of activist Bob Njagi and siblings Jamil and Aslam Longton.
They disappeared after being arrested by suspected police officers. Masengeli was accused of holding the judge at ransom by missing court summons multiple times.
The security withdrawal of Judge Lawrence Mugambi shows the tensions between the judiciary and law enforcement in Kenya. The judge’s concerns about surveillance have raised questions about the independence of the judiciary.
The later sentencing of the Acting IG questions the accountability of law enforcement officials. The case underscores the challenges faced by judicial officers in carrying out their duties without interference or intimidation.
