NAIROBI, Kenya – Retired Nairobi Provincial Police Officer Anthony Kibuchi has died at 67 after a long battle with cancer, ending a career—and a life—marked by an unwavering commitment to police reforms and community-driven law enforcement.
Kibuchi passed away on May 13 at the Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, where he had been admitted in critical condition. His family had recently appealed to the public for urgent blood donations in a final attempt to stabilize his health.
According to a family spokesperson, he succumbed to prostate cancer, a condition he was first diagnosed with in 2018.
Though he was declared cancer-free in 2022, the disease returned, this time more aggressive. Kibuchi will be laid to rest in Kirinyaga County on May 21, the family confirmed.
From Tough Crime Fighter to Reform Advocate
Kibuchi’s career in the Kenya Police Service spanned several decades and top postings, including as Provincial Police Officer (PPO) in Nyanza and North Eastern regions. But it was his tenure as Nairobi’s PPO from 2009 to 2013 that defined him.
At the time, the capital was grappling with the rise of the Mungiki gang, a period that demanded a leader with grit and an eye for strategy. Kibuchi delivered on both, deploying both hardline crackdowns and citizen engagement tactics that earned him trust from both sides of the badge.
More than just a disciplinarian, Kibuchi was passionate about sustainable change in the force. He championed County Policing Authorities, a model he hoped would decentralize security operations and boost accountability. While the idea never took off as envisioned, those close to him say he never gave up on the potential of community-based policing.
A Friend to the Press, a Mentor to Many
To journalists, Kibuchi was more than just a source—he was a collaborator. Reporters who worked the crime beat during his years in Nairobi recall receiving late-night texts or early morning calls from the PPO himself, offering a scoop or clarity on a developing story.
Among his peers and juniors, Kibuchi was described as a mentor with a soft center beneath the tough exterior.
He leaves behind a widow and four children. Since retiring in 2013, he had lived quietly in his Kianugu home in Kirinyaga, occasionally weighing in on matters of national policing through mentorship and private forums.
A Legacy That Endures
Anthony Kibuchi’s death marks the passing of a rare kind of police leader—one who saw law enforcement not just as a job but as a responsibility to the people.
His vision for a more accountable and community-rooted police service is still echoed in national discussions on police reform in Kenya.
Though his battle with cancer has ended, his push for reform, transparency, and public trust leaves a legacy that will outlive his badge.
