Police officer Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu, popularly known by his stage name Samidoh, now faces arrest for alleged desertion of duty.
This development comes just two weeks after the National Police Service (NPS) transferred the Mugithi star from Gilgil, Nakuru County, to Baringo County, an area prone to cattle rustling.
A letter from the Commandant Anti-Stock Theft Unit, dated June 9, 2025, states that Muchoki has been absent from his workplace for over 10 days. He was granted off-duty days and was expected to report back to work on May 27, 2025.
“Since then, he has not been seen, and his whereabouts are unknown. Efforts to trace him have been futile. He has now absented himself without leave for a period of more than ten days,” the letter states.
Muchoki has been declared a deserter, and an order has been issued to stop his salary.
The letter also instructs his immediate superior to visit his home in Nyandarua and, if he is found, to arrest him.
Under the National Police Service Act, if a police officer deserts the service, they commit an offense and can face severe consequences, including summary dismissal, imprisonment, or fines.
Precisely, a deserter can be dismissed from the service, imprisoned for up to two years.
However, the controversy deepened after another letter from the Inspector General’s office emerged, indicating that the singer had been cleared to travel to the US for a private visit on May 20, 2025, and was expected to return on June 9, 2025.
The transfer of Muchoki and the subsequent directive for his arrest are widely seen as a major disciplinary action, reportedly sparked by the explosive viral spread of his “Wantam” performance.
Days after footage of Samidoh’s performance at an entertainment venue widely circulated on social media, NPS issued his redeployment orders.
In the viral clip, the crowd is seen chanting “Wantam,” a slang iteration of “one term,” a phrase adopted by critics of President William Ruto as a rallying cry ahead of the 2027 elections.
