The security of Justice Lawrence Mugambi has been withdrawn days after sentencing the Acting Inspector of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, last week on Friday.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Kenya, Martha Koome, confirmed that the security of the High Court Judge was withdrawn over the weekend. Koome called for the National Police to restore his security, as she condemned the action, which is against the independence of the judiciary.
“Retaliatory measures against judicial officers are uncalled for. JSC calls for the national police to restore the security of Hon. Justice Mugambi,” she stated.
“The act of withdrawing the security of a sitting judge following a judicial decision that displeased certain authorities is deeply concerning. It sends a chilling message to the judiciary and the public at large—that those entrusted with upholding justice and safeguarding our rights can be intimidated, bullied, or retaliated against for their rulings,” she added.
Gilbert Masengeli was sentenced to 6 months in prison last week on Friday for contempt of court after snubbing the court order seven times, citing commitment on security issues in North Eastern counties of Kenya.
Mugambi ordered Masengeli to present himself to the commissioner general prisons, failure to which “CS Interior must take all steps to ensure he is committed to prison to serve sentence.”
Justice Mugambi, however, gave Masengeli a seven-day window to appear before the court if he didn’t want to serve the sentence.
“Masengeli can redeem himself by availing himself before this court in person to answer to the issues on which he has been avoiding; failure to do so, the sentence will become effect,” Justice Mugambi said.
The acting IG was ordered to appear before the High Court to respond to the whereabouts of three individuals who were abducted in Kitengeal and Mlolongo areas on a suspected police raid.
The three are suspected to have been abducted due to their involvement in the Gen Z, dubbed anti-government protests, which lasted for almost 2 months.
