The High Court of Kenya has convicted Gilbert Masengeli, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, to six months in prison for contempt.
Masengeli has seven days to turn himself in to the Commissioner-General of Prisons in order to start serving his sentence, according to a ruling made by Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Friday.
If the Acting IGP does not turn himself in, Justice Masengeli directed Kithure Kindiki, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, to see to it that Masengeli is imprisoned.
The judge said, “Mr. Gilbert Masengeli is sentenced to six months in prison. He is required to turn himself in to the Kenya Prisons Commissioner so that he can be committed to a prison facility to begin serving his sentence.”
After the Acting IGP ignored six consecutive summonses to appear in court, the judge rendered her decision.
Inquiring about the whereabouts of two brothers, Jamil and Aslam Longton, as well as activist Bob Njagi, Justice Masengeli had called the head of police.
In August, they were taken captive in Kitengela.
