Nakuru County embarks on a new chapter in law enforcement with the appointment of Police Commander Michael Mwangi, who takes over from Samuel Ndanyi.

When Ndanyi assumed command, Nakuru was experiencing high cases of insecurity.

Over the past year and four months, Ndanyi has faced numerous challenges while striving to restore safety and community trust.

The war memorial hospital saga remains one of the worst periods for the county commander.

Mr Ndanyi, had been issued with orders to oversee the return of the facility to the hospital’s management.

However, these orders were never seen through. Ndanyi was then ordered to appear in court to testify as to why he had not enforced the court orders.

On February 1, in the company of police officers he made his way to the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital and handed the hospital back to the hospital management.

Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi arrives at Nakuru War Memorial hospital on February 1, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Further along the year on July 16, during the anti- government protests, Nakuru based Mediamax journalist, Catherine Wanjeri, was shot thrice on the leg by police officers.

This caused an uproar among journalists in Nakuru, leading to demonstrations by the journalists which culminated at Central Police Station.

Once again, the former boss was on the spotlight when the journalists brought him to account.

Nakuru Journalists Association Chairperson, Joseph Openda hands over a letter of demands to the county police commander Samuel Ndanyi following the shooting of Mediamax reporter Catherine Wanjeri on July 17, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Here, the journalists through their representative organization put out several demands to the Police boss including; the arrest and prosecution of the officer involved in the shooting of Ms. Wanjeri, assurance of journalists' safety while in their line of duty and an end to targeting of journalists during demonstrations.

Also worth noting during his reign, is that insecurity in the county still remained a thorn in the flesh of most residents, with cases of muggings in broad daylight, break-ins and attacks by the night raising concerns.

This issue was highlighted by Mtaa Wangu reporter, Purity Kinuthia, who shed light on insecurity incidents that had rocked various parts of the county in the period ranging from mid- September to early October.

Perhaps the issue that has stood out during the tenure of Samuel Ndanyi is the series of killings that took place in Rongai constituency.

These were the murders of Mueni Mwalimu, 34, Vera Mugambi, 31 and Alice Ayuma Blessing, 5, that took place between July and August of this year, painting a bad picture of Ndanyi’s ability to curb crime

It is clear that although Samuel Ndanyi’s tenure was a short one,mambo yalikuwa mengi.

Notable moments in Samuel Ndanyi's time as Nakuru police commander

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Bret Sanya