The man who stunned the nation by setting up an unauthorized police station in Eldoret is back in the headlines, this time seeking official approval from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to launch a second security project. Collins Chepkulei Leitich, popularly known as “General,” has become a viral sensation after photos of his makeshift police base, built from mud walls and rusted iron sheets, circulated widely online, sparking both ridicule and admiration.
Leitich’s first station, located in Chebarus village, operated for nearly six months without the knowledge or approval of the National Police Service (NPS). Painted in official police colors and complete with detention cells, the facility handled local disputes and minor offenses, creating the illusion of a legitimate patrol base. Residents, unaware of its illegality, praised the initiative for improving security in an area plagued by burglary and livestock theft.
The station was eventually discovered and shut down by officers from the Kamuyu Police Post on March 8, prompting national debate over citizen-led security efforts and the government’s reach in rural areas. Despite the closure, Leitich has remained defiant, claiming he had verbal assurances from senior police officials that the station would be formalized if he provided a permanent structure.
Now, Leitich is pushing for a second project, this time with Murkomen’s blessing. “I’m not a criminal. I’m a patriot,” he told local media. “If the government can’t reach us, we must help ourselves. I’m ready to build another station, but this time I want it to be legal.”
Murkomen, who recently held a security meeting in Eldoret to address rising cases of land fraud and job scams, has not yet publicly responded to Leitich’s request. However, sources close to the ministry suggest the matter is under review, with officials weighing the risks of legitimizing citizen-led enforcement structures.
Online, Kenyans are divided. Some hail Leitich as a bold innovator filling a gap left by the state, while others warn that such actions could undermine national security and open the door to vigilante justice. The viral images of his mud-walled station, complete with a rusted roof and hand-painted signage, have become a symbol of both desperation and grassroots ingenuity.
