Senior officers John Mbijiwe, Remi Ngugi deny abuse of office charges
Former Rift Valley police boss John Mbijiwe (left) and former anti stock theft chief Remi Ngugi (right) in court August 27, 2013. The two denied abuse of office charges and were released on a Sh1 million cash bail each. BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
- John Mbijiwe and Remi Ngugi charged with abuse of office.
The two senior officers deny charges and are released on a Sh1 million cash bail each.
Two suspended police bosses have denied charges of abuse of office.
John Mbijiwe, the former Rift Valley police boss and Michael Remi Ngugi of the anti-stock theft unit faced abuse of office charges in connection to the recruitment of “impostor” Joshua Waiganjo who masqueraded as a senior police officer for close to 10 years.
A court was told Mr Mbijiwe ordered a “personal” file opened in Waiganjo’s name to disguise him as a police reservist. He also allegedly allowed him to board a police aircraft on a sensitive security trip to Baragoi.
The former PPO, court was told, also ordered two impounded vehicles released to Mr Waiganjo “with the full knowledge that he was not the rightful owner".
Mr Ngugi gave Mr Waiganjo unlimited access and use of police vehicles in addition to allocating him a personal driver, the court was told.
The two denied four criminal charges and were each released on a Sh1 million cash bail or Sh2 million bond. The case will be heard for four days beginning November 18.
“Waiganjo is the third suspect in the case and will be charged with impersonation on Friday,” prosecutor Lilian Obuo said.
Mr Waiganjo is accused of falsely presenting himself as a senior police officer and presiding over a graduation ceremony by inspecting a guard of honour mounted by forest guards on September 14 at the Kenya Forestry college in Londiani.
A further charge stated Mr Waiganjo arrested four employees of Njoro Rhino Safari Hotel and Farmers Inn respectively.
VIOLENCE AND FRAUD
Mr Waiganjo is currently facing charges of impersonating a senior police officer, robbery with violence and fraud in various courts in Nyeri, Naivasha, Nakuru and Nairobi.
Former Rift Valley police boss John Mbijiwe and former anti stock theft chief Remi Ngugi (in glasses) in court August 27, 2013. The two denied abuse of office charges and were released on a Sh1 million cash bail each. BILLY MUTAI
On Tuesday, the court heard that Mr Mbijiwe instructed Jacinta Wesinga the OCPD of Subukia to release two motor vehicles to Waiganjo “who was not the lawful owner in abuse of the authority of his office".
“On October 30, 2012 at Lanet airstrip in Nakuru being a person employed in public service as the Rift Valley provincial police officer, you arbitrarily allowed Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo and Gerald Maina Waiganjo to unlawfully board a police helicopter registration number 5Y STA in abuse of the authority of your office,” Ms Obuo said.
She said the former PPO instructed the OCPD West Pokot to open a police reservist personal file for Mr Waiganjo to “show that he was a police reservist” on November 23, 2012.
Mr Mbijiwe also allegedly directed that two trucks impounded at Subukia police station be released to the “impostor” on August 30, 2012.
The prosecution did not oppose the release of the suspects on bail but indicated it had lined 60 witnesses to testify in the case.
“This will be a criminal trial and and not an anti-corruption case,” magistrate E Nduva said.
The magistrate also issued a production order for Mr Waiganjo to be taken to court for plea on Friday.
He is being held at the Naivasha Maximum Prison.
