Collins Leitich in a previous function in Eldoret.
On True Caller, the global caller ID and call-blocking App, he identifies himself as Leitich DCCP State House.
This is the man who recently hit the headlines for establishing a ‘private police station’ at Cherus market in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County.
Collins Leitich, alias Chepkulei, is not a stranger to many, as he is well-connected to politicians in the country.
In his rural village of Asis, Ndugulu Location, he is regarded as a wealthy philanthropic businessman with global connections.
Leitich drives luxury vehicles and is often surrounded by young men who pose as his security. Whenever he steps out of his V8, his security detail acts as though a VIP has just arrived. On occasion, he has been seen in public with men who pretend to be armed police officers guarding a VIP.
His life was thrust into the spotlight a week ago when he took it upon himself to set up an unauthorised police patrol base at a rental property in Cherus Market. He branded it in police colours and named it Cheboror Police Patrol Base, creating the impression that it is a legitimate police post.
The flamboyant man is alleged to have gone as far as acquiring a Probox for the station, which he also painted in National Police Service colours.
The Probox has been frequently spotted at the Cherus trading centre in Kesses Constituency.
Leitich, who wines and dines with top politicians and businessmen in the country, has dared anyone to arrest him, insinuating that what he did was for the good of his community.
In a phone interview with the Nation, he claimed that his actions were prompted by the frequent cases of insecurity in his village.
Commonly referred to as ‘General’ by his close associates, he said he would not be cowed or deterred from fighting crime in his village.
“My people are living in fear due to rampant cases of insecurity in our area. Even our own home has experienced regular criminal activities despite being a gated home with private security guards. What I did was for the good of our community,” Leitich said.
However, he and the locals refute claims that the station had been in operation for six months. He argues that, before photos of the station were shared on social media, it had only been in existence for four days.
“It is a lie to insinuate that the station has existed for six months. I only decided to paint the place with the help of the community because of the insecurity and it had only been in place for less than four days before enemies of our area blew the matter out of proportion,” Leitich said.
He claimed that local leaders and senior police officers were aware of the plan, insisting that the structure was not intended to be a full-fledged police station, but rather a patrol base.
Leitich said that if the National Police Service assigns officers to the ‘patrol base’, crime, including burglaries and rampant livestock theft, would greatly reduce.
He added that he was willing to fund the police base by paying the Sh4,000 monthly rent and meeting other daily expenses at the station. “I am personally going to finance the station. Those against it ought to help the community by legalising the station.”
When questioned about his lavish lifestyle and the source of his wealth, Leitich said he is involved in various businesses locally and internationally.
“On matters of my wealth, that is my private life and no one can claim to be rich… even our President is still looking for money,” he said.
Leitich defended his lavish lifestyle after videos emerged of him in the company of senior police officers in police escort vehicles, saying; “when you are a businessman, you are a man of people”.
At his local market of Cherus, residents have defended him and praised him for setting up the ‘police patrol base’. Some threatened to protest against any attempt to arrest him due to his bold move.
"The initiative to establish and paint police colours on an unauthorised police patrol base at Chebooror by Leitich is welcomed for the sake of security in this area," said Isaac Maiyo Cherus, the market chairperson.
Maiyo urged the government to deploy police officers to the market police base and legitimize it in order to strengthen security in the area. "The government delayed establishing a police station here, yet cases of insecurity are on the rise. What we want is a police station, not security politics," said Maiyo.
Another resident, Viola Samoei, cautioned against any attempt to arrest Leitich. She claimed that before the premises were painted in police colours, the area OCS and other government security officers visited the rented space. This made locals believe that it was a legitimate police post.
"The level of criminal activities in this area is alarming. Our son’s idea to support the government in establishing a police patrol base was prudent and whoever is opposing it is an enemy of this area," said Samoei.
Responding to claims about the establishment of the police base, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi refuted assertions that the patrol base has been in existence for six months.
"Our officers at Kesses were aware of the painting of the building in police colours, but the mistake the residents made was to bypass the correct procedures,” he said.
Police have since said that they won’t occupy the illegal police post.
"The only person who authorises the establishment of a patrol base is the deputy inspector-general of police," said Mwanthi, noting that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating the matter.
He urged residents to identify land for the construction of a police base as a community initiative.
