Kenya’s acting chief of police, Gilbert Masengeli, was sentenced to six months in prison on Friday for repeatedly ignoring court orders to disclose the whereabouts of three men allegedly abducted by police.
The High Court in Nairobi suspended the sentence for seven days, allowing Masengeli one last opportunity to appear in court before being required to report to prison. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by the Law Society of Kenya, which is seeking a court order for the release of the three men who were reportedly detained by police in August and have been missing since.
The three individuals had been vocal on social media in support of anti-government protests held in June and July. Human rights activists have reported that many participants in these protests were abducted by state agents and held without communication; most have since been released.
President William Ruto has pledged to investigate these allegations, though he has largely defended the actions of state security services during the protests.
Judge Lawrence Mugambi had previously summoned Masengeli to court on seven occasions to provide information about the missing men, but Masengeli failed to comply.
“If he does not surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons, the Minister of Interior must ensure that Gilbert Masengeli is committed to prison,” Mugambi stated in his order.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Masengeli’s legal team, in a submission made on Thursday, requested the suspension of the contempt ruling, arguing that efforts to locate the three men are ongoing.