Seme MP James Nyikal has issued a strong call for accountability within Kenya’s police force, urging the arrest of acting Inspector General (IG) Gilbert Masengeli as a key step toward genuine police reform.
In a passionate statement made on Thursday, September 19, 2024, Nyikal criticized Masengeli’s recent contempt of court conviction, arguing that the acting police chief’s failure to respect the law has undermined public trust.
“In fact, for me if we really are serious about police force any reform is to get that acting IG into jail. If the seven days, end of Monday reprieve that he was given, if he had taken advantage of it he should go to jail as an example that we are serious,” Nyikal said during a TV interview.
Masengeli was sentenced to six months in prison for disobeying a court order in connection with the abduction of three individuals in Kitengela, further stoking controversy over his tenure.
Nyikal pointed out that the acting IG’s decision to defy the court has shaken the public’s confidence in the rule of law, particularly given his position at the helm of law enforcement.
“These are the things that actually make the citizens very upset, the person who is at the apex of law enforcement disobeying a court order,” the MP remarked.
Nyikal also questioned how Masengeli, after rising through the ranks, still appears to lack basic respect for the country’s legal and constitutional framework.
“If you look at the criminal judicial system, the police are key because they handle all the evidence. And this man has been through the system to the level that he can be the acting IG. He hasn’t even gotten the constitutional framework in his mind, in his behaviour, in his all-being to respect the law,” Nyikal stated.
New police boss
The timing of Nyikal’s remarks is significant, as Masengeli’s tenure as acting IG is expected to come to an end with the appointment of Douglas Kanja Kirocho, who was recently approved by the National Assembly and Senate.
President William Ruto is expected to formally confirm Kanja’s appointment at any time.
Despite Masengeli’s attempts to delay his prison sentence, the Court of Appeal denied his legal team’s request to suspend the ruling on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
The acting IG now faces the possibility of beginning his six-month sentence on Friday, September 20, 2024, if he fails to appear in court by the end of the day on Thursday, September 19, 2024, to comply with the court’s orders.
Masengeli must appear before the High Court by close of business on Thursday to explain claims surrounding the abduction of three people in Kitengela, as ordered by Justice Lawrence Mugambi.
With police reform high on the agenda, Nyikal’s comments reflect growing frustration among lawmakers and the public, calling for accountability at the highest levels of Kenya’s police force.
