'They wanted to kill him' Ekuru Aukot on withdrawal of Justice Mugambi's security

According to Aukot, events that followed the 6-month jail slap on Masengeli were very circumstantial, and all fingers point at a possible execution.

Justice Mugambi's security detail was withdrawn and disarmed a day after he made the ruling, forcing clamour from judicial officers led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

"I'm not afraid to say here I think they wanted to kill Justice Mugambi. There is circumstantial evidence to that effect," he said speaking on Citizen TV.

"There are reports that they were actually calling the drivers and the security of the judge to find out his whereabouts, for what purpose if it was not to eliminate him? It's not rocket science how many people have been killed and abducted in this country?"

Aukot went on to add that Masengeli is a threat to national security after showing clear contempt of the rule of law.

In his view, the government should install stringent laws to apprehend leaders and government officers who breach the law.

"Masengeli is a criminal in uniform he does not deserve that police uniform anymore. He should be in Kamiti or industrial area," he said.

"I think we need a special jail, probably with transparent glass so that some of these individuals in government can be jailed and we can go visit them like in a zoo."

Masengeli was found guilty of contempt after skipping 7 court summons to give a report on the whereabouts of Bob Njagi, Jamil Longton and his brother Aslam Longton, who went missing on August 19, 2024. 

The three are reported to have been abducted by police amid the Gen Z-led anti-government protests. 

In his defence, Masengeli said that he reassigned the two officers protecting Mugambi "for purposes of attending VIP security courses" and that appropriate arrangements were made to afford him security.

By Monday next week, September 23, Masengeli's prison sentence will kick in unless he ceases his ongoing defiance, a stance he has maintained consistently despite not presenting himself before Justice Mugambi.

Douglas Kanja has been appointed as the new IG of Police, with Masengeli serving as his deputy.