A Nakuru court will rule today on whether Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo and three officials face charges stemming from his five-year deception as a senior police officer, including allegations of unauthorized helicopter use during a 2012 Samburu security operation linked to the Suguta Valley massacre.
Waiganjo, who impersonated an Assistant Police Commissioner, is accused of maintaining the charade through 2017. Senior Resident Magistrate Joe Omido will assess legal liability for former Rift Valley Police boss John M’Mbijiwe and ex-Anti-Stock Theft Unit Commandant Michael Remi Ngugi, who deny abuse of office charges.
M’Mbijiwe is alleged to have created a personal file for Waiganjo in November 2012 to falsely establish him as a police reservist, while Ngugi faces accusations of granting unrestricted access to police vehicles and a personal driver. Both men were released on a Sh2 million bond.
Waiganjo’s 2017 trial was halted after a judge ruled his initial sentencing violated due process, citing missing evidence. He previously served a two-year prison term for similar offenses and was released on a Sh2 million bond. A 2014 report denied claims of his death in custody.
The scandal resurfaced in 2013 when Waiganjo was arrested for making arrests and inspecting a guard of honor by Kenya Forestry guards during a graduation ceremony in Londiani, Kericho County.
