Senior officer put to task over his links police imposter Waiganjo

Senior Assistant Commisioner of police Samuel Orina Nyabengi when he appeared before the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) for vetting process in Nairobi on 23/06/2015 [PHOTO FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

A senior police officer almost broke into tears during his vetting as he fought off accusations of being involved in highway robbery while serving in Nakuru.

Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police Samuel Orina Nyabengi was taken to task over his alleged relationship with police imposter Joseph Waiganjo when he appeared for vetting yesterday.

He faced a difficult time fighting off allegations that he received bribes from the alleged imposter.

Mr Nyabengi was asked to explain to the commission his relationship with Mr Waiganjo and answer to accusations of being bribed by the bogus policeman to provide cover-up.

Give clarification

National Police Commission Chairman Johnston Kavuludi directed the officer to give clarification on a minibus he was allegedly given by Waiganjo.

Nyabengi said he had met Waiganjo after an introduction by his immediate boss and had no contact with him personally.

Nyabengi went ahead to dismiss the accusations as petty, saying he had been served with the accusations but the commission was unable to provide more details.

The commission also raised an accusation from the public that the officer had been engaging in narcotics during his tenure at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport between 2004 and 2006.

Nyabengi also dismissed the accusations.

The officer went ahead to state the promotions he had received while working at the airport, saying if indeed he was guilty of the accusations, he would not have been promoted.

The officer was further accused of mishandling a poisoning case that was reported to him when he was based at the CID headquarters.

The commission said it had been reported that Nyabengi had taken lightly the case and had avoided the prosecution of the suspects.

Nyabengi said he was based in Nyeri at the time the case is alleged to have been reported to him.

"How could I have been assigned a Nairobi case when I was based elsewhere," he said.

Nyabengi went ahead to say he would provide the documents of his transfers to Nairobi and the documents of the case.

When he was told of accusations of being involved in highway robbery while working in Nakuru, Nyabengi almost broke into tears, saying he was being targeted for no reason.

"Mr Chair, my director at the time wrote a recommendation letter and commended me for the good work I had done on the highway. He said I was being transferred to do the same on the Mombasa highway," he said.

The commission also questioned him on ownership of four houses under his name.

He explained that he was holding the properties as a trustee for the children of his late brother-in-law.

Nyabengi said he was not ready to publicly reveal details of the circumstances that led to the passing on of the relative, saying he would only do so in camera.

Light moment

Roba Kalicha Dima, who was second to be vetted, brought a light moment at the vetting when he requested the panel to swear him in and conduct prayers for divine guidance.

However, his request was denied, with the commission chairman stating they had already prayed at the beginning of the proceedings.

"Mr Roba, we already prayed and as for your swearing in, this is not a court process or a commission of inquiry where you have to speak the truth and nothing but the truth," said Kavuludi.

Roba was faced with accusations of negligence, high crime rate and harassment, with the commission giving him a chance to clear the air on the issues.

Roba, a former assistant commissioner of police, said there were no crime statistics to indicate the rates had increased during his tenure.

Also vetted was Stanley Tito Kilonzi, an assistant commissioner of police, who was being accused of corruption at the Namanga border.

He also said his corruption accusations at the border were malicious since after investigations, he was vindicated.

The officers who were being vetted for a second time yesterday have been on compulsory leave as they wait for a final decision from the commission.

Also vetted were Alexander Munayo Kyenze and David Birech Kipkosgei, both assistant commissioners of police.