Kimilili Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has defended acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli days after he was sentenced to six months in prison.
The controversial lawmaker in a statement issued via his official X account on Monday, September 16, 2024, stated that Masengeli is going nowhere.
Barasa on Masengeli’s critics
Barasa told off individuals calling for Masengeli to surrender himself and start the sentence, saying that they should relax.
“People should relax. Gilbert Masengeli, the inspector general of police is going nowhere! Kwani ni kesho!” Barasa stated.
People should relax. Gilbert Masengeli , the inspector general of police is going nowhere!. Kwani ni kesho!…..
— Hon Didmus Barasa, MP Kimilili (@DidmusWaBarasa) September 16, 2024
Justice Mugambi’s security
Barasa’s statement comes moments after Chief Justice Martha Koome announced that Justice Lawrence Mugambi who had sentenced Masengeli, is facing intimidation after his security detail was withdrawn over the weekend.
Koome in a statement issued on Monday, September 16, 2024, said the security detail of Justice Mugambi had been disarmed and withdrawn following his sentencing of Masengeli.
She argued that the Judges’ security is an accrued benefit that cannot be withdrawn whimsically.
“Article 160 of the Constitution unequivocally protects judicial independence, stating that the Judiciary is subject only to the Constitution and the law, and shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority,” CJ Koome stated.
CJ Koome further stated that withdrawing the security of a sitting Judge is deeply concerning, noting that it sends a chilling message to the Judiciary and the public at large.
Western leaders defend Masengeli
Didmus Barasa’s statement comes after a section of Western leaders claimed that there is a well-choreographed scheme to block Masengeli from taking over as the substantive police boss.
Lurambi MP Titus Khamala and his Bumula counterpart Jack Wamboka speaking separately argued that Douglas Kanja, 62, who was nominated as Inspector General of Police has already reached retirement age and there are efforts to lock out Masengeli from heading the National Police Service (NPS).
Khamala said there are individuals in government who are against the broad-based government and were using the courts to block the acting police IG who has good academic credentials from becoming the next police boss.
Wamboka on the other hand argued that former Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome is the person to be held responsible for the abductions that happened during the anti-government protests.
Masengeli’s sentence
High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi sentenced Masengeli to six months imprisonment on Friday, September 13, 2024, days after he was convicted for contempt of court.
On September 9, 2024, Judge Mugambi said that Masengeli had failed to honour the summons from the court.
Mugambi added that Masengeli’s actions amounted to willful disobedience that undermines the supreme law and administration of justice.
The judge further ordered Masengeli to surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons to serve his sentence.
