By Betty Luke
Approximately six feet tall, fair complexion, short hair and unfading smile is the apt description of Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi whose one year and six months stint is coming to an end.
Immediately after taking over from his predecessor Joseph Kanyiri in December 2019 from Homabay, Mr Shambi maintained a rather bossy and official style which was obviously expected from a new officer.
What many did not know at the time was that he would become a vocal, social but rather funny adminstrator months later which made many think that he was a joker.
Adorn a suit and occasionally in tailor-made shirts, Mr Shambi would in most occasions not end his speech or address without making fun of anything which was either deliberate or accidental.
In some instances, his jokes and Swahili proficiency augured well with the residents especially in transmitting information on several issues such as health and security.
Socializing with people from all walks of life and occasionally helping vulnerable groups endeared him to the public though some felt he was rather soft than is expected of a person who chairs the County Security Committee.
Two months after taking over the reins, Mr Shambi trended online after he shared a video singing a song praising late retired President Daniel Moi who passed on in February 2020.
“Wananchi Wakenya tunampenda Moi… translated to Kenyans love Moi” he was heard singing while recalling his love for the late President from his childhood days in Taita Taveta, his home county.
Promising a rather strict way of dealing with drug business and incessant banditry attacks, Mr Shambi would often say “Kiatu kimevaliwa mguu mwingine” meaning “Things have changed and the old strategy was no longer applicable”. He went on “Tutawafuata uchochoro kwa uchochoro” meaning the security organs will ruthlessly deal with the traffickers.
And when Covid-19 struck in March, the senior adminstrator told off residents for not following health protocols on social distancing and wearing of masks accusing them of using ears as masks hangers and not for hearing.
“Masikio imekuwa mashikio ya kushikilia barakoa… (Ears have become masks hangers)” he said while asking locals to use ears for both roles.
Two months later (May 2020), emotional Mr Shambi was quoted warning the government officers who were allegedly colluding with drug traffickers in the business telling them that their families will suffer for ruining lives and future of the young people.
“Malipo ni hapa hapa. Mbinguni ni hesabu,” he said translated to “Reward is here on earth”
He said God would unleash anger on the drug dealers for the pain that they caused to families that have lost their children to narcotics.
At one time he accused parents of neglecting their parental roles, which he blamed on children indulgence in drug abuse, saying some of them had become ‘people to just give birth’.
“Baadhi yetu tumeacha kuwa wazazi, tumebaki wazaaji tu” one of his most used news montage by local radio stations.
While residents and Kenyans continued to reel from the effects of Covid-19, the adminstrator spent the better part of 2020 entertaining his online followers especially on Whatsapp.
On November 12, 2020, he shared merged photo of him and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga both adorn grey Kaunda attire captioned “Wakishona, tunashona. Kwani?”
Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi Whatsapp status screenshots. PHOTO/PRESS POINT
A strong believer, Mr Shambi would on several occasions share pictures of him attending services at various churches in and out of Isiolo. He survived a grisly accident in Nyeri last year.
Mr Shambi was recently bashed after he shared a video of him telling off his detractors while driving adorn a grey polo shirt, brown pullover and black cap. Residents claimed that he was promoting recklessness for double tasking.
“Mashimo walionichimbia, wataingia wenyewe. Mitego walionitegea, itawanasa hao wenyewe. Kama sio Mungu kuwa karibu nami, adui zangu wangenimaliza” translated to “The traps that my enemies have set for me will trap them. Were it not for God, my enemies could have overpowered me”
A lover of peace, the officer would on several occasions insist on the need for communities living in Isiolo to coexist amongst themselves and their neighbours.
“Tusiwahi kutunza mabaya na maovu kwenye mioyo. Moyo ni mahali pa kutunza raha na starehe” translated to “There is no need to keep grudges in heart because the heart should accomodate good things” he said in respect to one of Ali Hassan Mwinyi’s books.
In what many say was overboard, he on April 27 castigated men for not taking bath saying flies were following them even at night.
“Vijana na wanaume, nimegundua shida yenu-hamuogi. Mtu anafuatwa na inzi mpaka usiku,” he shared on Whatsapp status.
He had a month earlier shared a picture of him taking a Covid-19 jab at Isiolo Referral Hospital on March 22.
In black kaunda suit at his Isiolo house, Mr Shambi recently warned against stealing in a video.
“Unaweza ukachukua cha mwenzio kwa mabavu na ukadhani umepata, kumbe umepatikana” meaning “You could think you have it after stealing only to be caught”
Seen as goodbye to Isiolo residents, Mr Shambi on Tuesday shared his picture while signing a visitors book captioned “signing off. Shukran zangu, asante zangu za dhati”.
Mr Shambi is slated for a move to Nandi County in coming few days with Geoffrey Omoding set to take over in the swap transfer.
The Press Point wishes Mr Shambi the very best in his endeavours.
