Police defend withdrawing Justice Lawrence’s security.

The National Police Service (NPS) has responded to accusations from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) about the alleged intimidation and withdrawal of the security detail assigned to High Court Judge Justice Lawrence Mugambi. 

In a press release dated September 16, 2024, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, denied claims of retaliatory action after being sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court. 

Masengeli stated that the security reassignment was a routine operational decision, not an act of retaliation. 

He mentioned that the officers assigned to Justice Mugambi were recalled for mandatory training and that suitable arrangements had been made to ensure the judge’s safety. 

“The IG has accorded the Judiciary, like other arms of government, the requisite protection without favour or discrimination,” the statement reads.

The statement also emphasized that the IG has provided the Judiciary with necessary protection without favoritism or discrimination, citing Article 245 of the Constitution, which grants the Inspector General independent command over security details with no external interference. 

Furthermore, Masengeli clarified that only President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta are entitled to personal security detail aside from the IG’s responsibility for the security of all Kenyans. 

The IG’s statement has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Kenyans, including legal experts, activists, and social media users, rejecting the explanation and interpreting it as an attempt to undermine judicial independence.

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