60 witnesses, 7 years later, the "fake police" Waiganjo is still free

When Mr. Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo, a man suspected of posing as an Assistant Police Commissioner in Nakuru, was arrested in 2013, the news sent shock waves across the country, with questions about how a civilian could infiltrate circles Inmates of the police force.

Interestingly, even after appearing before three judges in Nakuru and Naivasha and three magistrates, their case remains unsolved.

POLICE PICKERS

Even more shocking were the revelations that Waiganjo had disguised himself as a police officer for almost a decade without being detected, and allegedly rose to the rank of assistant to the police commissioner.

His arrest led to more chilling revelations when people emerged to expose some of the unpleasant things that Waiganjo allegedly committed while operating as a police officer in Njoro, Nakuru County.

These included shooting and transferring officers, using police vehicles and flying in police helicopters.


The court gives Joshua Waiganjo 14 days to respond to Haji
The court gives Joshua Waiganjo 14 days to respond to Haji
Coup for prosecution in the case of Joshua Waiganjo
Coup for prosecution in the case of Joshua Waiganjo
It is also alleged that he participated in the planning of the failed mission to recover the cattle in Baragoi, where 40 anti-stock police officers were slaughtered by cattle thieves.

Satisfied with police evidence, the Director of the Public Ministry (DPP) preferred several charges against Waiganjo.

He was charged along with senior police officers, including former Rift Valley provincial police chief John M'Mbijiwe, and the head of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Remi Ngugi.

The charges ranged from office abuse, impersonation, possession of government stores to theft allegedly committed between July and November 2012.



The prosecution had at least 60 witnesses, including minor police officers working under Waiganjo, senior police chiefs, including former police commissioner Mathew Iteere, Waiganjo's friends and the public.

The prosecution's case since the initial appearance had instilled public confidence that Wainganjo and his accomplices would surely be met with the full force of the law.

IEBC clearance

More than five years later, Waiganjo, to the dismay of the public, remains a free man with the various charges presented by the prosecution that collapse in rapid succession.

The closest prosecution was to obtaining a conviction was in 2015, when the court found him guilty of illegal possession of government equipment and impersonating an assistant police commissioner and sentenced him to five years in the maximum prison of Naivasha .

However, the DPP was held shortly after the Naivasha High Court ordered a new trial of the case two years after his conviction.

Judge Christine Meoli, while annulling the sentence, said that Waiganjo did not submit to a fair trial, since crucial evidence was omitted during the hearing.

He was later released on bail of Sh500,000 and a guarantee of the same amount or a cash bond of Sh200,000 pending the hearing of the case.

The order meant that Waiganjo would be nothing more than a simple suspect.

To prove this, he proceeded to request the authorization of the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) to compete for the Njoro parliamentary seat in the period prior to the 2017 elections.



The president of IEBC, Wafula Chebukati, while responding to Waiganjo's letter of authorization, said that the Constitution did not prevent him from competing since his appeal had not yet been determined.

Chebukati advised him to meet several requirements before being included as a candidate.

WEAKNESS CASE

In June 2017, Waiganjo was acquitted of charges of robbery by a Nakuru court due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Chief magistrate Benard Mararo said the prosecution had failed to prove that Waiganjo had stolen