Popular Kikuyu musician and Administration Police officer Samuel Muchoki, famously known as Samidoh, has been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court, shielding him from arrest after being labelled a deserter by the National Police Service.
The ruling, issued on Friday by Justice Diana Kavedza, provides temporary relief for the artist, but it comes with strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport. Samidoh was ordered to sign a personal bond of KSh 200,000, following a petition by his legal team, who argued that the declaration of desertion was both premature and unjust.
“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,” ruled Justice Kavedza.
“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 dispute originates from allegations that Samidoh failed to report to his new duty station under the Administration Police’s ASTU unit in Gilgil, following his transfer. Authorities reportedly declared him a deserter in late June, claiming that he had been absent from duty since May 27, 2025.
However, Samidoh’s legal team submitted documents indicating that he had received official travel clearance. Among them was a letter dated April 25, 2025, which purportedly shows that he was authorized to be out of the country between late April and early June — directly challenging the narrative that he was absent without leave.
In response to the evidence, the court acknowledged that investigations are ongoing but agreed that arresting the officer at this stage would be unwarranted.
As part of the anticipatory bail conditions, the court directed that Samidoh must deposit his passport with the court and continue to cooperate fully with the investigators.
Justice Kavedza also emphasized that the anticipatory bail should not be interpreted as immunity from prosecution, but rather as a safeguard to ensure that due process is followed without subjecting the applicant to arbitrary arrest.
The matter is scheduled to return to court for mention on September 16, 2025, when further directions are expected.
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