Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta dances with musician Samidoh during Jubilee Party’s National Delegates Conference at Kenyatta International Convention Centre on February 26, 2022.
What started as moment of fun for Mugithi maestro Samuel Muchoki, popularly known as Samidoh, has quickly escalated into disciplinary proceedings with his police job on the line.
His tribulations started on Friday, May 16, when a video of the musician in a live performance at an undisclosed entertainment joint went viral on social media platforms, in which revellers are chanting slogans with a perceived political connotation.
In the video, the revellers are singing out aloud to ‘wantam’ – a corruption of the phrase one term- which has become a popular rallying call by President William Ruto’s political competitors who are campaigning to dislodge him from power in 2027.
Popular mugithi musician Samidoh performs during a past public show.
“Wantam’ - loosely interpreted as a call to vote out the president after one term in office - has been popularised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by Parliament last October and subsequently removed from office after falling out with his boss, President Ruto.
The career police officer, who is a guitar maestro, is heard in the video working up the revellers who chant in unison, ‘Wantam.’
Shortly after, this video of Mr Samidoh on stage reached the desk of police chiefs at the National Police Service (NPS) headquarters at Jogoo House, where the matter of the officer of the law seemingly in a situation where the government was being roundly castigated was discussed. By Monday, May 18, the police chiefs had started taking action on Mr Samidoh.
A highly placed source told Nation that the meeting of senior officers resolved that Mr Samidoh be transferred from the central region police headquarters to the Administration Police’s Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) in Gilgil.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the decision to transfer Mr Samidoh to the ASTU headquarters was part of the disciplinary action by his bosses for the live performance, which is now considered an offence by a disciplined officer.
The police service guidelines bar police officers from engaging in any political activities and are required to remain apolitical and loyal to the government of the day.
The senior officer explained that after the video went viral, some police commanders felt that Mr Samidoh was in contravention of the Service Standing Orders popularly known as (SSO).
Besides being moved to the Gilgil-based ASTU, Mr Samidoh is further expected to face disciplinary investigations by his seniors.
Facing disciplinary action
The Nation on Tuesday reached out to Mr Samidoh for a comment on his transfer to ASTU headquarters and whether he was facing disciplinary action following the wantam video saga.
Mr Samidoh told Nation on phone that he was not in a position to speak on the issues and promised to comment later.
“I'm in a place I can’t speak now. We will talk later,” responded Mr Samidoh. Subsequent calls to his phone went unanswered.
The Nation also reached out to Mr Gilbert Masengeli who is the Deputy Inspector General in charge of AP and effectively Mr Samidoh’s boss. Mr Masengeli did not respond to calls or text messages by Nation seeking a clarification on the disciplinary action against Mr Samidoh.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also did not respond to Nation’s inquiries.
Depending on the gravity of the allegations that Mr Samidoh will face, there are several outcomes that are expected.
Among the possible outcomes include a demotion, being fined, a warning or even dismissal from the service.
Once the disciplinary proceedings have been concluded, the findings will be forwarded to NPS headquarters where the DIG in charge of the AP will forward Mr Samidoh's file to the IG for ratification.
If satisfied with the action taken, the IG will communicate the findings to the National Police Service Commission.
Mugiithi artist, Samuel Muchoki aka Samidoh performing at a past Ngemi Festival.
Mr Samidoh was among over a dozen musicians from Mt Kenya who visited Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence on Friday, May 23.
The musicians and entertainment heavyweights from Central Kenya, both gospel and secular, gathered at the DP’s Karen residence for what was termed as an engagement focused on enhancing government support for the creative sector.
Some of the popular musicians who met the DP are Karangu Muraya, Ben Githae, Jose Gatutura, DJ Fatxo, Sammy Irungu, Martin Wajanet, and Ngaruiya Junior.
The visit has however, drawn a backlash from government critics from the region led by Mr Gachagua.
On Sunday, Mr Gachagua attacked the musicians, accusing them of betraying the Mount Kenya community and calling for a boycott of their work.
The ex-DP urged entertainment venues to stop booking performances by the musicians and called on fans to boycott their songs and social media pages.
Prof Kindiki has, however, defended the musicians and stated that the artists had come to seek government support in dismantling exploitative cartels in the creative industry and ensuring fair compensation for their work.
Attacks by Gachagua musicians
“Musicians and others in the creative space are seeking government intervention to ensure exploitative cartels are removed and their talent is more rewarding,” said Prof Kindiki.
Mr Dennis Itumbi, head of presidential special projects and creative economy coordinator, also dismissed the attacks by Mr Gachagua on the musicians.
“Kenyan musicians are not your personal choir, Mr Gachagua. You do not own their voices, their choices, or their convictions,” Mr Itumbi said in a statement.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, the creative sector has a dedicated state department, structured policy backing, and government programmes designed to secure artists’ rights, amplify their earnings, and anchor the creative economy in national development,“ Mr Itumbi said.
