By Kuria Kimani
It is not commonplace to find police constables, the lowest rank in Kenya’s police force, having attained doctorate degrees. This would be a paradox as one’s academic qualifications almost certainly go in line with their professional ranks. This is not so for Musa Ambuchi, a police constable, father of five, and a Doctor in Counselling Psychology. To know more about Dr Musa Ambuchi PhD-who is part of Raila Odinga’s security detail- this article will explore his biography highlighting his academic, professional, and personal journey.
Age and Place of Birth
Musa Ambuchi is 48 years old. He was born in Kenya’s Nyanza region.
Education
Musa Ambuchi began his schooling in Nyanza before travelling to Nairobi for work. It’s in Nairobi where he advanced his education.
After a brief hiatus following work deployment, Musa Ambuchi was back to books after a well-wisher sponsored his undergraduate and graduate degrees after a chance-meeting at his new work station – The Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The stranger who was from Bondo catered for his Christian Counselling degree amounting to Ksh 400,000 and his master’s degree in Counselling Psychology at Ksh 600,000 at Regent University.
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In 2012, Ambuchi signed up for a Doctorate program pursuing Counselling Psychology. Counselling Psychology as defined by The American Psychological Association is “a general practice and health service provider specialty in professional psychology that focuses on how people function both personally and in their relationships at all ages”. This is a skill that great Sherlock-Holmes-detectives embody. For Musa Ambuchi, he is appreciative of the training he has received from school terming it incredibly important for his work. However, this was not the end of the road for him as he later footed his own school fees at Kampala University, Uganda for a Project Management postgraduate diploma.
Career
He was recruited as a police constable in 1992 where he worked for four years before he thought it was wise to further his studies. Musa recalls an incident during his early years in the police force when he got into a misunderstanding with a colleague leading to his superiors sending him to work in the staff canteen. He spent his 6:00 AM to 12:00 noon hours as punishment and have the rest of the day to himself. “Books sound like a good idea,’ he thought.
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The police constable was intrigued by this idea and began being engulfed by the urge to further his academic training. He signed up for computer classes in Ruiru and later on would enroll for a Laboratory Technology program at the Nairobi Technical Training College Institute (NTTCI).
His career journey has seen him work with the General Service Unit and at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. In 2008, Musa Ambuchi was deployed on guarding duties to ODM leader Raila Odinga’s security detail.
Personal Life
By 2014, was yet to be given a promotion despite his stellar academic accomplishments. Musa said at the time that he was always with the then Prime Minister, leading to his absence in promotion board meetings.
“I have attended two promotional boards, but for me I am comfortable pursuing my education first. Maybe I have not been promoted because whenever interviews are taking place, I am away with the PM,” he told the Star.
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The former Prime Minister is said to have written to the Kenya Police Service Commission asking that Musa Ambuchi be given a promotion in line with his qualifications. The letter addressed to the KPSC Chair Kavuludi Johnston and Kenya’s first Inspector General Kimaiyo David was however said to not have reached them. They commented that upon receipt of Musa’s documents, they would adequately place him.
Note: This story was first published in 2014. Some of the details herein regarding Dr Musa Ambuchi, PhD, like promotion to a higher rank, may have been effected by the National Police Service.
