Human rights activists have called on the public to initiate citizens’ arrest against former acting Inspector-General of Police Gilbert Masengeli.
Speaking during a press conference in Mombasa on Thursday, September 19, 2024, the members of the Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) urged the public to act should Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki fail to take steps to commit convicted Masengeli to prison as directed by the court.
In the press statement read by Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) director Khelef Khalifa, the activists stated that the continued defiance of court orders and people’s wishes by senior state officials is one of the key challenges to advancing civil liberties in the country.
They have called on Masengeli to obey the court order and present himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons to begin serving his six-month sentence.
Should he fail to present himself, the activists say CS Kindiki should ensure he commits and if he also fails, Kenyans should initiate citizens’ arrest against the Deputy Inspector General of Police.
“Defiance of court orders and people’s wishes by senior state officials continue to be one of the key challenges to advancing civil liberties in the country. We condemn this culture of impunity and expect the immediate-former acting Inspector-General of police, Gilbert Masengeli, to lead by example by obeying the court order and present himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons to begin serving his six-month sentence,” the statement read in part.
The activists have further demanded the immediate release of three people abducted in Kitengela, Boby Njagi, Aslam Longton and Jamil Longton.
Moreover, they have called for called for a stop to what they have termed as police-led persecution of Kisumu-based activist Boniface Ogutu.
“If Masengeli fails to do this, Kenyans will expect the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kindiki Kithure, to initiate steps to have him committed. The primary reason for the court summons against the Masengeli is to ensure that the three people abducted in Kitengela-Boby Njagi, Aslam Longton and Jamil Longton-are produced in court,” the activists stated.
“We still demand their immediate, unconditional release. Should the Interior CS fail to initiate the steps to commit Masengeli to prison, we urge the public to initiate citizens’ arrest against the immediate-former acting IG. We also demand a stop to the police-led persecution of Boniface Ogutu, an activist in Kisumu who has been leading pro-accountability protests in the county.”
Masengeli’s request to appear before Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Thursday, September 19, 2024, was rejected since he was engaged in another matter.
The lawyers acting on behalf of Masengeli had presented their prayers before High Court presiding judge Chacha Mwita who declined to grant his request to appear before Lawrence Mugambi for apology.
Instead, Mwita directed that his application be placed before Judge Mugambi on Friday for further directions.
