He became the first police boss to be picked by President Mwai Kibaki soon just two months after he took over power in 2002.
By picking him as the new police boss to replace the fired Philemon Abong’o, Edwin Nyaseda became the country’s eighth Police Commissioner.
But barely one year later, in 2004, he was dismissed by the same man who appointed him. As a result, Nyaseda, a career detective, became the shortest serving police boss in the history of Kenya. His tenure lasted just one year. He was succeeded by Kenya Air Force man, Major General ( Rtd) Hussein Ali.
But almost four years after leaving one of most powerful offices on land, Nyaseda died after a long battle with liver infection. He was 56 years at the time of his death.
Nyaseda’s successor, Ali mourned him as a man who was dedicated to the service of his nation, saying that he had diligently served Kenya for 27 years.
Senior police officers would later be appointed to chair the committee that was preparing Nyaseda’s funeral even as politicians led by the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga, flocked his home to condole with his family.
Nyaseda’s rise to the powerful police post came as an accident. Or was it a matter of luck? His ascension can be attributed to Narc politics which had propelled Kibaki to power.
And though he managed to initiate some serious reforms during his time at the helm of the police, the rise in crime rates in the country proved to be his Achilles heel.
Prior to his appointment to the position as Police Commissioner, Nyaseda served as director of operations at Vigilance House.