Police bosses punish Samidoh over 'Wantam' video

By Newsflash Writer

What began as a lively musical performance for popular Mugithi artist and police officer Samuel Muchoki, widely known as Samidoh, has now turned into a serious disciplinary matter that could jeopardize his career in the police service.

The controversy erupted on Friday, May 16, after a video of Samidoh performing live at an unidentified entertainment venue went viral across social media. In the footage, the audience is seen chanting the slogan “wantam”—a slang derivative of “one term”—a politically charged phrase used by opponents of President William Ruto who aim to unseat him in the 2027 elections.

The term “wantam,” widely understood as a call to vote President Ruto out after a single term, has gained traction among political dissidents, especially following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October last year. In the viral video, Samidoh, known for his guitar prowess, is seen energizing the crowd as they repeatedly chant the controversial phrase.

The video eventually reached the upper echelons of the National Police Service (NPS) at Jogoo House, prompting immediate concern over the optics of a serving police officer appearing to support anti-government sentiments. By Monday, May 18, top police officials had initiated disciplinary measures against Samidoh. According to a reliable source, senior police leadership decided to transfer him from the Central Region Police Headquarters to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) in Gilgil.

Official sanctions

The source, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the transfer was part of disciplinary action, as the public performance was deemed a breach of conduct for a disciplined officer. According to police service regulations, officers are explicitly prohibited from engaging in political activities and must maintain neutrality and allegiance to the government.

Some senior commanders reportedly viewed Samidoh’s actions as a violation of the Service Standing Orders (SSO). Beyond the transfer to ASTU, Samidoh will also face a formal disciplinary probe. When contacted for comment, the singer declined to discuss the matter, saying he was unavailable to speak at the time but would address it later. Subsequent efforts to reach him went unanswered.

Attempts to get a response from Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli, who oversees Samidoh, were unsuccessful. Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja also did not respond to inquiries. Depending on the outcome of the disciplinary inquiry, Samidoh could face a range of penalties, from a warning or fine to demotion or outright dismissal.

Once the disciplinary process concludes, findings will be forwarded to NPS headquarters, after which the DIG in charge of AP will send the file to the IG for review. If the IG endorses the recommended action, the results will be shared with the National Police Service Commission for final determination.

Interestingly, despite the looming disciplinary issues, Samidoh was seen attending a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence on Friday, May 23. The gathering included more than a dozen entertainers from Mt Kenya—both gospel and secular artists—who met with the DP to discuss government support for the creative industry.

Backlash over meeting

Among those present were well-known names like Karangu Muraya, Ben Githae, Jose Gatutura, DJ Fatxo, Sammy Irungu, Martin Wajanet, and Ngaruiya Junior. However, the meeting sparked backlash from some quarters, particularly from Mr. Gachagua, who accused the artists of betraying the Mt Kenya community.

On Sunday, Gachagua harshly criticized the musicians, calling on entertainment venues to boycott them and urging fans to avoid their music and online content. He framed the meeting as a betrayal and called for a cultural boycott.

An image of Samidoh on stage. Photo/Samidoh/Instagram

In response, Deputy President Kindiki defended the artists, explaining that their engagement aimed at dismantling exploitative structures within the creative sector and ensuring fair remuneration for artists.

“Musicians and creatives are pushing for government intervention to dismantle exploitative cartels and make their craft more rewarding,” said Prof Kindiki.

Presidential advisor Dennis Itumbi also weighed in, defending the musicians and rebuking Gachagua.

“Kenyan musicians are not your personal choir, Mr. Gachagua. You don’t own their voices, choices, or beliefs,” he stated. Itumbi emphasized that, for the first time in Kenya’s history, the creative industry enjoys structured policy backing, government programmes, and a dedicated state department committed to improving artists’ rights and earnings.