Meet the police constable with a PhD

By HUDSON GUMBIHI 

Musa Ambuchi could be the only police constable with a doctorate degree in Kenya. Or East Africa for that matter.

A constable is the lowest rank within the police command structure. This is the cadre that does most of the police leg work, especially operational duties across the country.

Dr Musa Ambuchi is not done yet as he will only rest when he becomes  a professor. The soft-spoken officer is among the security detail of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, having been deployed on  guarding duties since 2008.

Ambuchi  has a PhD in counseling psychology – a discipline that is quite relevant to his police work. Funny thing is, the 41-year-old has never been promoted or placed in the right position – commensurate with his qualifications.

He joined the police service in 1992.  

“I have attended two promotional boards, but for me I am comfortable pursing my education first. Maybe I have not been promoted because whenever interviews are taking place, I am away with the PM.” 

On two occasions, while still in office, Raila wrote letters to Kenya Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi and Inspector General David Kimaiyo requesting them to promote Dr Ambuchi on merit. While Kimaiyo could not be reached by the time The Nairobian went to press, Kavuludi responded to our inquiry and piped that while Ambuchi follows a letter addressed to the Human Resource personnel at the Police Service, “We didn’t get the letter, but we encourage scholarly advancement for the purpose of the ongoing police reforms.”

Kavuludi adds: “When we get his documents, we will be willing to place him in a suitable position matching his qualifications.”

‘Accidental’ scholar

Ambuchi’s urge for knowledge was both an act of serendipity and luck. Education was never on his mind until he got into a bitter tiff with a friend at their Reece Company based in Ruiru in 1996. As ‘punishment’ , he was deployed to the staff canteen. 

He worked between 6 am and noon. With a whole afternoon to himself, he decided to ‘chew books’. Ambuchi then enrolled for computer lessons in Ruiru town. Ambuchi then proceeded to the Nairobi Technical Training College Institute (NTTI) for a laboratory technology course.

From the Police Sacco, the father of five was transferred to General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters for a short stint before a posting to Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

It was while at the Reserve that lady luck came smiling.

“I met a friend who was ready to sponsor my education. He was from Bondo and was on holiday with his American wife.

The man made arrangements for me to study at Regent University, which has a local branch here,” recalls Ambuchi. 

The sponsor, whose identity Ambuchi says would rather remain faceless, paid Sh 400,000 in 2000 for his bachelors degree in Christian Counseling, and  Sh600,000 for masters in Counseling Psychology.

In 2012, Ambuchi sat for his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the same university before enrolling for a post graduate diploma in Project Management at Kampala University, where he catered for the fees.

And while the police service is a career full of risks and stress, he claims there are only four trained counsellors.  

On police officers who shoot each other, Ambuchi says, “it is because of small misunderstandings and lack of education. Sometimes, when seniors are not well educated like their juniors, the mismatch can cause unnecessary rifts,” he opines.

Ambuchi juggled police work and education because of the necessary cooperation with his immediate bosses and  ‘secondly, we have 24 hours in a day. We work for eight hours so I have to sacrifice.’