The trial of Joshua Waiganjo, accused of impersonating a senior police officer, faced a procedural halt as Nakuru High Court suspended rulings on his case. The decision followed a request from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to delay proceedings until an application to reopen the case is resolved.
Waiganjo is charged alongside former Rift Valley Provincial Police commander John M’mbijiwe and ex-Anti-Stock Theft Unit head Remi Ngugi, who face abuse-of-office allegations. The court’s suspension stems from a DPP application challenging a 2017 ruling that closed the prosecution’s case without testimony from key investigators.
Principal Magistrate Joe Omido had dismissed the state’s bid to reinvestigate the matter, directing the case to be reviewed for a ruling on Waiganjo’s liability. The DPP’s appeal seeks to reintroduce testimony from senior officers including Superintendent Fatuma Hadi, Gidieon Kimilu, and Joseph Ngisa, who were involved in the initial inquiry.
Justice Joel Ngugi ordered the stay, stating that all parties had been served with the application. The case will resume on March 28, 2019, after the court addresses the DPP’s request. M’mbijiwe and Ngugi have denied allegations of shielding Waiganjo, who allegedly maintained his false identity for years without detection.
