Meet Corporal Kinyua, the deejaying police officer
When James Kinyua is not on duty at the Administration Police headquarters in Nairobi, he is deejaying in events such as company and family parties.
The 31-year-old father of two was a corporate deejay before joining the then police force 12 years ago, a hobby that he still enjoys to date.
The Corporal spoke to Nairobi News about his rare combination of policing by day and deejaying by night.
“This (deejaying) was my career before I joined the police force which was a force at the time but is currently a service. I had developed interest when I was a young boy as my only brother was a deejay and so I learnt the art from him and started doing gigs as early as while in high school,” says Corporal Kinyua.
Born to a Kenya Army mother and Airforce father, Corporal Kinyua always wanted to join the police force but he enjoyed the social scene as well. With time he managed to strike a balance.
CORPORATE EVENTS
“Our parents were displinarians and it was hard to convince them about deejaying at first. But when I showed interest in a career as a police officer as well, they allowed me to enjoy my hobby,” recalls the father of two.
“My elder brother had defied the odds to learn how to deejay and drive at a tender age and I think that helped me to convince my parents,” he says.
Corporal Kinyua, who now has a son whose interest is in deejaying as well, says he has managed to create time for his hobby and his superiors are very supportive.
“I had the deejaying machines and a colleague of mine had the sound equipment, so we combined efforts and started hiring out our services for corporate and family events. Our superiors are very supportive of talent and even during corporate events we offer our talent to the police service,” says Corporal Kinyua.
PEACE AMBASSADOR
Having grown up in Runyenjes, Embu and Nairobi counties, his interest in the entertainment industry has grown with time and he intends to juggle both careers all the way.
Corporal Kinyua has accomplished a lot in his career as in 2011 he participated in the cycling for peace event in Isiolo which was meant to encourage communities to uphold peace as the neighbouring Somalia was at war.
“I was made a global peace ambassador as a result of the cycling event. In 2015 I was also awarded the outstanding police officer title by the administration police service,” says the 31-year-old.
To the young officers, Corporal Kinyua’s advise is drawn from Proverbs 21:3 which says “To do what is right is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
The bottom line is things don’t just happen, you have to make them.