I ignored Waiganjo orders, says officer

What you need to know:

  • Interdicted official claims that PPO, however, ordered him to obey the directives

Indicted Njoro police boss Peter Njeru had full knowledge of operations of a man accused of posing as an officer and often ignored orders from him, a commission of inquiry heard Monday.

Mr Njeru told the commission investigating Mr Joshua Waiganjo over impersonation that on several occasions he ignored orders from the accused.

He said he was, however, ordered by then Rift Valley provincial police officer (PPO) John M’Mbijiwe to obey the same directives.

The commission, which is headed by Ms Mary Owuor, had its first sitting at Nakuru’s Old Town Hall on Monday where Mr Njeru was the first witness to give evidence.

Mr M’Mbijiwe has also been interdicted over the Waiganjo case.

Mr Waiganjo came to public attention early this month following his arrest for allegedly masquerading as the Rift Valley deputy provincial police boss.

Mr Njeru told the commission that he was summoned by Mr Waiganjo to accompany Mr M’Mbijiwe on a trip to a place which his boss did not disclose.

He said when he declined, Mr M’Mbijiwe called him and instructed him to obey the orders. He also asked him to carry with him some writing materials. The trip, it later turned out, was to Baragoi where they were attending a top security meeting.

“We were to take a flight at Lanet Airbase, but before we entered the military barracks, Waiganjo ordered me to ‘speak’ to the army officers at the gate,” said Mr Njeru.

Though this made him doubt if Mr Waiganjo was really a senior officer, he obliged.

The team to Baragoi, Mr Njeru told the commission, included Mr M’Mbijiwe, other senior police officers from Rift Valley Province, Mr Waiganjo and a Mr Gerald Maina.

It later emerged that Mr Maina was Mr Waiganjo’s younger brother who, Mr Njeru said, was working with a lending institution.

At one time, Mr Waiganjo used his influence to get an official Toyota Land Cruiser for Njoro Police Station.

“He had on many occasions promised to get me a vehicle from the police commissioner through the PPO’s office and at last he delivered,” said Mr Njeru.