Popular Kikuyu musician and Administration Police officer Samuel Muchoki, widely known as Samidoh, has secured anticipatory bail from the High Court after he was declared a deserter by the National Police Service.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, temporarily shields him from arrest but comes with strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport.
Samidoh was granted a personal bond of Sh200,000 after his legal team moved to court seeking protection from what they termed a wrongful and premature declaration of desertion.
"The applicant herein is admitted to a personal bond of Sh200,000, which shall be executed by the Deputy Registrar and is directed to deposit his passport in court," Justice Diana Kavedza ruled.
"Upon the conclusion of investigations, and if a decision to charge the applicant has been made, the respondents shall not arrest or detain the applicant, but he shall be informed of the court where he is to appear for plea taking."
The case stems from claims that the officer failed to report to his new duty station after being transferred by the Administration Police’s ASTU unit in Gilgil.
Authorities reportedly issued a desertion notice in late June, alleging that Samidoh had been absent from official duty since May 27, 2025.
In response, the court acknowledged the ongoing investigation but agreed with Samidoh’s lawyers that his arrest would be premature given the dispute surrounding his travel clearance.
As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered him to deposit his passport in court and to continue cooperating with the investigation.
The court emphasised that anticipatory bail is not immunity from prosecution but a protective measure to prevent arbitrary arrest while due process unfolds.
Documents filed in court by Samidoh’s lawyers include a letter dated April 25, 2025, allegedly showing that he had received clearance to travel abroad between late April and early June.
This contradicts the earlier narrative that he was absent without authorisation.
The case will be mentioned again for further directions on September 16, 2025.
