John M’Mbijiwe, the former Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer who was interdicted over the fake cop saga has been reinstated.
The National Police Service appointed him to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) with effect from October 1, 2014.
The senior policeman was interdicted and charged alongside Joshua Waiganjo who was accused of falsely presenting himself as an assistant commissioner of police.
At the height of masquerade, Waiganjo is said to have flown in police helicopters, led operations, inspected guards of honour in full uniform, and even arrested suspected offenders.
However, on May 8 2020, M’Mbijiwe and Waiganjo were acquitted of abuse of office and impersonation charges by a Nakuru Court on account of insufficient evidence.
Seven years after the publicised arrest, Nakuru Resident Magistrate Joe Omido ruled that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the three suspects, who included former Anti-Stock Theft Commander Remi Ngugi.
“If the accused persons were to be placed on their defence on any of the charges that they are faced with, there will be no basis upon which any of them can be convicted on any of these charges if they were to offer nothing in defence,” ruled Omido.
