Judge Flees As Activist Storms Court, Demands Arrest Of Acting IG Masengeli

• A drama ensued in the High Court in Nairobi after activists disrupted a session Justice Lawrence Mugambi was presiding over
• The session was on the case of acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli who had defied court summons
• Masengeli was to be questioned on the whereabouts of three Kenyans who disappeared in Kitengela

Nairobi—Drama ensued at a city court when activists disrupted the hearing of a case in which the IG had been summoned to appear in court to explain the whereabouts of three missing persons.

How Nairobi activists were dealt with in court

Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli had been ordered to appear in court to explain the whereabouts of the missing persons.

Charles Sakei and Julius Kamau had to be dragged out of court by guards, who had a hard time trying to contain them

Judge Lawrence Mugambi issued a warning should the acting IG fail to comply with the summons and address questions regarding the whereabouts of the three abducted individuals.

Mesengeli was required to attend the 3pm court session for questioning on Tuesday, September 3, but failed.

Why acting Police IG Gilbert Masengeli was needed in court

The court order followed a previous directive for security agents to reveal the whereabouts of Bob Micheni, Jamil Longton, and Aslam Longton, which was not complied with.

The three individuals were reportedly arrested and detained incommunicado after actively participating in efforts to oppose the now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a petition in court, alleging that the trio was abducted by armed men and forcibly placed into a white Subaru, which then drove off to an unknown location.

Amnesty International and the LSK stated that the three were last seen on August 19, and their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Justice Mugambi had previously ordered Masengeli to release the trio or produce them in court, whether alive or dead.

The court was told that Masengeli was preoccupied with other officials, thus his inability to appear in court.

The trio was last seen on August 19 as they were being bundled into a white Subaru car.