Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take immediate disciplinary action against Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja and his deputy, Gilbert Masengeli, accusing them of persistently defying court orders.
In a letter addressed to IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issak Hassan, MUHURI board member Khelef Khalifa said the two senior officers have repeatedly failed to appear in court despite multiple summonses related to abductions and enforced disappearances.
“The conduct of these two officers undermines the authority of the Judiciary and erodes public confidence in the rule of law and constitutional governance. It is unacceptable that senior officers entrusted with upholding the law can willfully disregard it,” Khalifa said.
According to MUHURI, IG Kanja ignored at least five court directives between December 2024 and July 2025, including orders by Justice Chacha Mwita requiring him to account for missing persons such as the “Mlolongo Four” and blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia. Similarly, Deputy IG Masengeli, while serving as acting IG in August 2024, was convicted of contempt of court by Justice Lawrence Mugambi after skipping seven consecutive summonses linked to the abduction of three protesters during Gen-Z demonstrations.
Although Masengeli later apologized and had his sentence suspended, MUHURI argues that both cases amount to gross misconduct and abuse of power.
The rights group has demanded that IPOA state the legal framework under which the two continue to serve, initiate disciplinary proceedings, and recommend their removal from office.
“Failure by IPOA to act decisively will not only amount to dereliction of duty but will also expose IPOA as complicit in shielding impunity at the highest levels of the police service,” the letter reads.
Kenya’s Constitution stipulates that no public officer is above the law, with the police service mandated to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental freedoms. Human rights groups say continued defiance of lawful court orders by top officers risks entrenching a culture of impunity in the security sector.
