In a move that has raised concerns about judicial independence, the security detail assigned to High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi was withdrawn over the weekend under unclear circumstances. Chief Justice Martha Koome confirmed the withdrawal on Monday, stating that Judge Mugambi’s bodyguards had been disarmed before being removed.
The Chief Justice condemned the action, linking it to the sentencing of Acting Inspector General (IG) Gilbert Masengeli. “A disturbing action was taken by the national police in the wake of the sentencing of the acting IG. Police assigned to Justice Mugambi were disarmed and subsequently withdrawn over the weekend,” CJ Koome said. She further emphasized that this act goes against Article 160 of the Constitution, which underscores the judiciary’s independence.
“Retaliatory measures against judicial officers are uncalled for. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) calls on the national police to restore the security of Hon. Justice Mugambi immediately,” she added.
Koome assured the public that the Judiciary would continue to uphold the rule of law and would not be intimidated. She condemned the withdrawal of security as an “act of intimidation,” warning that such actions undermine the integrity of the judicial process. “The act of withdrawing security from a sitting judge following a judicial decision that displeased certain authorities sends a chilling message to both the Judiciary and the public. It implies that judicial officers can be intimidated or retaliated against for their rulings.”
The controversy follows Judge Mugambi’s decision on Friday to sentence Acting IG Masengeli to six months in prison for contempt of court. Masengeli was found guilty after failing to respond to seven court summonses regarding the whereabouts of three individuals—Bob Njagi, Jamil Longton, and Aslam Longton—who went missing during anti-government protests on August 19, 2024, allegedly abducted by police.
Judge Mugambi ordered the acting IG to surrender to the Commissioner General of Prisons, with the possibility of avoiding the sentence if he appears in court within seven days. Meanwhile, police headquarters has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the withdrawal of the judge’s security, although there are reports suggesting that the bodyguards were sent for further training.
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