A document from the Office of the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) has raised questions regarding a recent desertion notice issued against Administration Police Constable Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu, popularly known as Samidoh.
The document, dated April 25, 2025, confirms that the officer had been officially granted travel clearance to the United States of America for a private visit.
“Travel clearance is hereby granted to the above-named officer to travel to the United States of America for a private visit. The officer will leave the Country on May 20, 2025 and travel back on June 9, 2025,” the letter states.
It further specifies that the travel would be privately funded, covering accommodation and other related expenses.
The clearance was issued in response to a request from the Deputy Inspector General, Administration Police Service.
However, on June 9, 2025, the date indicated for his return, a memo was circulated by police authorities noting the officer's absence without official leave (AWOL) and calling for further administrative action, including removal from the payroll.
The memo indicated that the officer, who also has a career in music, had “failed to return from off-duty on May 27, 2025” and that “his whereabouts are not known.”
It directed STAPOL Gatumbiro to visit the officer’s home in Nyandarua West Sub-County as part of the efforts to establish contact.
The memo classified the officer as a deserter with effect from June 6, 2025.
The situation has drawn attention to the importance of clear, centralised record-keeping regarding the movements of police officers, particularly those undertaking approved international travel, to avoid discrepancies in official communication.
As of press time, Samidoh had not issued any public response to either the desertion notice or the travel clearance.
Samidoh just shared a cryptic message on social media quoting Abraham Lincoln:
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not to themselves!” ~Abaram Lincoln.
