IG Masengeli tours Northeastern as court indicts him for contempt

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli is on a weeklong security assessment in the North Eastern region following a spike in insecurity incidences.

The National Police Service said his visit will take him to police operational areas in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties.

NPS said on Monday, he made visits to Mandera Police Station, where he met with NPS officers having earlier made a stop in Wajir.

The acting IG is accompanied by DCI Director Mohamed Amin and GSU Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni.

“The Ag IG is conducting a security assessment of the operational areas, including Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa counties, this week following the recent probing attacks in the security camps, the latest being yesterday's probing incident by suspected militia at Khorof Harar,” NPS said in a statement.

The onset of Masengeli’s security tour came on the same day the High Court in Nairobi found him guilty of disobeying court orders.

This was after he failed to show up in court for the sixth time running to explain the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of three people in Kitengela.

The three disappeared on August 19 after being allegedly abducted by people suspected to be police officers.

The acting IG sent Deputy IG of Kenya Police Service, Eliud Lagat, to appear in court on his behalf on Monday owing to his absence in North Eastern but Justice Lawrence Mugambi found him in contempt of court

He termed Masengeli’s actions as impunity and open defiance, which the court will not allow.

"Masengeli is guilty of contempt and the court ought to punish him accordingly," the Judge said.

The acting IG’s visit to North Eastern come just days after intercommunal fights erupted between the Akamba and Somali in Mandongoi resulting in the deaths of at least five people from both sides.

The animosity was sparked by the alleged defilement of a 16-year-old girl.