Former Nairobi Provincial Police Officer Anthony Kibuchi has passed on after a battle with illness.
Kibuchi passed away at the age of 67 on Tuesday, May 13, at the Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, where he had been admitted in the days leading up to his demise.
According to a family spokesperson, Kibuchi died after a long battle with cancer.
Prior to his death, a blood appeal had been made, as Kibuchi's health had deteriorated to the point of urgently needing 15 pints of blood and 4 pints of platelets.
In his prime, Kibuchi was a no-nonsense officer who served in the country's police service for decades. He rose through the ranks of the Kenya Police to hold several prestigious senior security positions.
Notably, he previously served as the Provincial Police Officer (PPO) in Nyanza and North Eastern provinces, where he earned a reputation for his straight talk and firm leadership style during the Mwai Kibaki era.
Arguably, his highest-profile role was when he formally took office as Nairobi Provincial Police Officer (PPO) in 2009. He held this position until his retirement in 2012, after which he was replaced by traffic commandant Benson Kibui.
When he took charge as Nairobi's police boss, Kibuchi gained a reputation in the media for his hands-on approach to handling crime and public safety in the city.
Besides overseeing major security operations in Nairobi, Kibuchi is largely remembered for pioneering the approach of engaging ordinary citizens on matters concerning public safety in a bid to strengthen the relationship between the police and the local community.
Being in the limelight as a police boss did not come without controversy. In 2012, he was embroiled in a legal battle with then–Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
At the time, Kibuchi was thrust into the national spotlight when he threatened to sue Mutunga for defamation, after the latter allegedly accused him of disregarding a court order by dismissing it as 'tissue paper'.
At the time, tensions between the two public servants threatened to boil over as Kibuchi gave Mutunga seven days to retract his statements. The Nairobi police boss retired later that year.
The former police boss will be laid to rest in his native home in Kirinyaga County on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
