Samidoh: From Mugithi glory to fighting bandits

The rhythm of Mugithi nights may soon miss one of its most beloved voices.

Samuel Muchoki, famous as Samidoh, a celebrated Mugithi artiste and police officer, has been thrust from the pulsating nightlife of Kenya’s entertainment scene to the isolated terrains of Baringo County. This is a move viewed by many as a disciplinary slap by the National Police Service (NPS).

Until recently, stationed at the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) headquarters in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Samidoh’s reassignment followed a viral incident that has shaken the entertainment and political spheres.

The video clip, which circulated like wildfire across social media platforms, showed a raucous crowd chanting “Wantam”, a deliberate distortion of “One Term”, a catchphrase increasingly adopted by critics of President William Ruto as a political jab ahead of the 2027 elections.

Samidoh, ever the showman, is seen continuing his performance amid the chants, leading to speculation that he may have been indirectly amplifying a controversial political message.

Barely days after the clip made rounds online, the NPS issued transfer orders that would see the singer redeployed from Gilgil to Baringo, a volatile region often associated with insecurity and harsh working conditions.

Speaking to The Standard, Samidoh confirmed his transfer. “I was told I’m supposed to report to Baringo today,” he said. “I’m reporting to Gilgil today for further deployment.”

While he tried downplay the circumstances, saying police officers are frequently reassigned, the timing and the destination of his new posting tell a different story.

Those in the entertainment industry, as well as keen political followers, see the move as less of a routine reshuffling and more of a clear disciplinary message.

It’s a huge turn for Samidoh, who once served in Nairobi under the Kenya Police Service before transitioning to the Administration Police and later to ASTU in Gilgil.

The musician has not just been a fixture in Kenya’s musical circles; he has also been a favourite in Nairobi’s vibrant nightspots, where he regularly belts out his chart-topping hits to jam-packed crowds.

His performances are more than just shows; they are cultural events, drawing Mugithi lovers from all walks of life.

His absence from this circuit due to the Baringo posting will significantly dent his music career, especially in terms of live performances and fans engagement.

The saga adds to a string of controversies that have surrounded Samidoh in recent years. In January 2023, then Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, publicly called on the artiste to “put his house in order” following a highly publicised altercation between Samidoh, his wife Edday Nderitu and nominated Senator Karen Nyamu at a Dubai nightclub.

Nyamu, then romantically linked to Samidoh, stormed the reserved lounge where the artist and his wife were seated, leading to a confrontation captured on camera and widely shared online. Nyamu later attributed her behaviour to intoxication and apologised. 

Samidoh’s recent brush with political power came just last week when he and other musicians visited Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence.

While details of the meeting remain unclear, it reportedly drew sharp rebuke from Gachagua, who accused the artistes of betraying Mt Kenya. Gachagua urged fans to unfollow the musicians and advised entertainment venues to boycott their bookings.

The fallout was swift. Gospel singer Ngaruiya Junior reportedly suffered a massive drop in YouTube subscribers, from over 500,000 to a mere 32,900.

Samidoh too felt the sting. During a show in Thika, he was heckled by fans chanting “Wantam”, forcing him to reluctantly echo the chant in an awkward moment of damage control.

Fellow performer 90K Kamsoh, who was also at the Kindiki meeting, is rumoured to have donated part of his earnings to charitable causes to repair his image, though these claims remain unverified.

Videos have since emerged showing shopping trolleys laden with goods, allegedly from Kamsoh, intended for needy families.

In an unexpected twist, presidential aide Dennis Itumbi came to the artists’ defence. In a passionate statement, Itumbi accused Gachagua of political intimidation and hypocrisy, saying, “That Gachagua would stand at a church altar and shamelessly urge Kenyans to unfollow musicians… is not just offensive, it’s regressive.”

The Music Copyright Society of Kenya also weighed in, warning that it would not tolerate attempts to sabotage musicians’ livelihoods for political reasons.

As for Samidoh, coming days will likely reveal how deeply this transfer to Baringo cuts into his career. With limited access to entertainment venues and reduced opportunities for live shows, his visibility in the Mugithi scene may wane.

For a man who once sang to thousands, the echoes of his guitar may soon be drowned out by the quiet winds of Baringo.