How Former Matatu Driver Became an Inspector & DCI George Kinoti's Top Aide

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti is a man known to many for his no-nonsense approach to fighting crime in the country.

The DCI boss has warmed the hearts of many for the work he has done at the Kiambu Road-based police division.

However, behind his success as the country's number one sleuth is his personal assistant Lawrence Some. He graduated from college in 2000 and immediately entered the Matatu industry as a driver.

File image of Inspector Lawrence Some. |Photo| Courtesy|

Some began as an employee before he later acquired his own vehicle and drove it himself. He plied the Zimmerman 44 route for two years.

During an interview with the DCI magazine, he narrated that with time his matatu had started to wear and tear and was overtaken by newer pimped out matatus and this slowed down his business.

"It could not withstand the stiff competition for the majority of youthful passengers who preferred to travel in comfort and style in flashy matatus," he recalled.

Some then relocated to the village and plied the Narok-Kisiriri-Enabelbel routes. There, his matatu was as good as new and was adored by passengers. This began earning him more money.

He revealed that at the time, the business had a huge challenge of cartels and police officers who took exorbitant bribes. In one incident, he was involved in a fight with an officer.

Some was going about his usual business when he was stopped by the police, he attempted to bribe the officer with the usual Ksh100 but the officer requested Ksh500. When he refused to part with the amount, the officer jumped into the front seat and asked him to drive to the police station.

At the back of his mind he knew that if he drove to the station, he would be booked and his vehicle impounded, so he took off with the officer to an unknown location.

His escape was, however, cut short by a herd of goats that had been grazing along the road. This allowed the officer to wrestle him, prompting an intervention from other matatu operators.

The officer later became a good friend of his.

Months later, Some was involved in an accident and his vehicle was written off. He was also ordered to pay off passengers who had been injured in the unfortunate incident.

Weeks later, he got another job as a driver, and while on his shift, he was stopped by the officer he had fought with, since identified as Samwel.

The officer advised Some to apply in police recruitment that was upcoming.

"If you don't go for the recruitment, I'll arrest you," the officer told him.

He went home and applied for recruitment the same day. Since he had finished college, his university qualification gave him an edge over other recruits. 

However, he was disqualified in the initial stages of recruitment after an interviewing officer who said he had a body disorder.

"Your hands have a bend. You'll be shooting people with stray bullets if you become a policeman," Some recalled the officer's response.

While he was walking out of the station, he was met by an officer he identified as Ngatia who listened to hi and helped him sail through the application process, and was recruited into the force.

Some continued working as a driver until the last day when he reported to Kenya Police College at Kiganjo in Nyeri County.

Some first met DCI Kinoti at the Central Bank of Kenya where they had been seconded.

"I was later posted to the National Police College at Kiganjo as an instructor. That's where Kinoti found me after he was appointed the DCI and requested me to become his aide," he added.

On recounting his time from a matatu driver to DCI Kinoti's top aide, Lawrence expressed his gratitude for the journey adding that he and Ngatia would later reunite at Nairobi's Jogoo House in April 2021.

"I overcame great odds of an unprivileged childhood to rise to be where I am today. Every time I walk through the streets of Narok and remember the days I slept hungry in the slums, my encounters with traffic police, and the haunted life I lived as a matatu driver, I normally pause to thank God for the amazing deeds he has done to me and my family," he recalled.