This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Published on September 11, 2019, in The Standard, this story highlights the innovative approach of Chief Inspector William Sifuna, a police officer stationed in Maralal, Samburu County.
Known as the 'preaching policeman,' Sifuna has employed a unique method of fighting crime in the banditry-prone area. He uses a Bible to give bandits a second chance, asking them to return stolen goods, seek forgiveness from the victims, and swear never to steal again.
However, should any criminal decide to play rough and go for the trigger, Sifuna is prepared to defend himself. He believes that divine intervention can change even the most battle-hardened bandit.
As a trained counselor and accredited mediator, Sifuna also preaches at Elshadai Restoration Ministries church in Maralal. He firmly believes that God, not guns alone, can best handle the country's crime rate.
During a morning patrol in the streets of Maralal town, it was clear that most of those who had crossed paths with Sifuna in the past had since become part of his flock. He takes an opportunity to preach to them or counsel them before locking them up, and when they step out of the cold cells, most of them confess and turn away from crime.
Chief Inspector Sifuna is a common face in the streets, a regular visitor at boda boda stages in town, where he preaches to the operators. He is a bold figure in mediation talks and a key speaker in church every Sunday.
His name pops up whenever a colleague at work requires counseling. Still, he is a policeman first, then a preacher. He enforces the law, but in a rather interactive manner, preferring less congested cells and dealing with most petty offenders within the cells.
He has set up a rescue centre at the police station for the most vulnerable children, often victims of defilement and those found in the streets. He also oversees the operations of a children's home in Kilimambogo that currently houses 31 children, besides his charity work in remote parts of Samburu.
Those who know Sifuna say he has succeeded in demystifying law enforcement and changed how police officers relate with ordinary Kenyans. He is a whole new definition of a police officer, they say.
