When Inspector Job Oyagi took the oath of service at Kiganjo Police Training College in 2005, deep down he vowed to live by those words.
On Boxing Day, he applied the vow he took when he responded to a road accident in Ndara on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway where a saloon car had rolled over injuring three people on board.
He and two of his colleagues rushed to the scene and later proceeded to Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi to check on the survivors, who disclosed to them that they had left Sh450,000 in their vehicle.
After a long search in the car at the scene, Mr Oyagi, who was leading his junior officers, found the money neatly tucked in a chamber at the bottom of the wreckage.
“The car had already been vandalised by the first responders so getting the money was a miracle. We also recovered various items from the car but we decided to keep them safe for the victims,” he said.
Mr Oyagi’s act of returning the money to the survivors has animated his village in Kisii County.
His phone was full of congratulatory messages from his village elders, his Nyambunwa Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Kenyenya sub-county and leaders who are delighted about his honesty.
He says his conviction to serve is strengthened by his faith in God and his upbringing.
“Serving is a calling. This is the work that I vowed to do and I cannot compromise my Christianity by oppressing the needy because all of us are children of God,” he said.
Taking my photos
With Corporal Yusuf Dayib and Constable Peter Maina, he handed over the money to the owner.
He says they declined gifts from the injured couple, saying they were just doing their job and they did not deserve to get any payment for doing what is right.
Police Inspector Job Oyagi and his colleague Yusuf Dayib assessing the wreckage of the car at Maungu police post in Taita Taveta County.
“I was not alone, so I don’t want to take the credit. We did a good job and we all agreed to give the owners their money. At no point did we discuss anything about hiding the money,” he said.
His act of kindness has warmed the hearts of many, with Kenyans praising his rare act of honesty when the news first emerged on social media.
“I have received congratulatory messages from many people, even from my bosses. Some are even stopping their cars and taking my photos just to congratulate me,” he said.
Mr Oyagi, 39, started his career with the National Police Service at the Marigat Police Station. He later moved to Nakuru and Mariakani before being transferred to Maungu as the base commander.
He also served with the African Union Mission in Somalia or Amisom in 2017 after graduating from Egerton University with a degree in criminology and security studies. He is now working on a master’s degree in security management at the same university.
He says his 17-year journey in the service has not always been smooth and needs resilience and determination.
“I resolved to be a policeman but with a different kind who was called to serve. I want people to know that there are good policemen out there,” he said.
He asked Kenyans not to label all police officers as inhumane and insensitive but instead work with them and appreciate their efforts.
“We are not bad people. My request to my fellow Kenyans is to see us as their brothers and sisters because we are also humans,” he said.
Speaking at Moi County Referral Hospital, the owner of the money, Mr Timothy Njuguna, who suffered head injuries, said he received the whole amount and thanked the officers for their honesty.
“I can confirm that my money is intact – not even a single coin has been removed. The money was for our clothes business and meant a lot to us,” he said.
Mr Njuguna was travelling from Nakuru to Mombasa for the Christmas holiday. BY DAILY NATION