The Acting IG, Gilbert Masengeli, has refuted the claims by the Judicial Service Commission that Hon. Justice Lawrence Mugambi’s security details were withdrawn to intimidate him and the entire judicial system as ‘ill-intended.’
However, Masengeli has come to clarify that the two security details assigned to the judge were recalled for VIP security training, and were replaced by Judiciary Police Unit VIP security officers.
“In the case of Hon. Justice Mugambi, the two security officers in question are General Duty Officers and were therefore recalled to attend VIP security training and were replaced by two VIP protection officers from the Judiciary Police Unit,” Masengeli explained in a statement.
He also stated that the law doesn’t guarantee VIP protection to any Kenyan other than the President, Deputy, and retired Presidents.
“Other than the President, the Deputy President, and the Retired Presidents, no other Kenyan is entitled by the law to be provided with personal security detail.”
He added that “the protection of VIPs is guided by the NPS Policy on The Provision of Protection of Security to VIPs and Other State Officers, and VIPs are protected by Officers from specialized units, including the Security of Government Buldings and VIP Protection Unit (SGB).”
Hon. Mugambi’s security details were reportedly withdrawn three days into the ruling he made, handing Masengeli six months of imprisonment for contempt of court after failing to honor seven summons.
He, however, gave Masengeli a seven-day redeemable chance to present himself before, failure to which the Interior CS should ensure he serves the sentence. CS Interior has the authority to direct the IG under Article 245 (4)(c) of the Constitution.
Masengeli has maintained he was on security assessment duty in the North Eastern and Coastal regions at the time he was summoned to appear before the judge and that he sent the Deputy IG, Kenya Police Service, Eliud Lagat to represent him.
The Acting IG was required to answer for the disappearance of three individuals linked to the Gen Z-led anti-government demonstrations. The trio were reportedly abducted by police officers on August 19, 2024, in Mlolongo and Kitengela areas.
