Wanjiku Odhiambo

“I've realized that fighting crime knows no borders. We're all in this together, no matter where we come from.”

Wanjiku comes from a small town in Kenya and grew up dreaming of traveling the world. After studying criminal justice at university, she joined the police force in Nairobi and quickly climbed the ranks. Striving for new adventures, she took a job with Interpol and was stationed in Guangzhou, China. Despite the challenges of being a foreigner, she fell in love with the city and has made it her home. Her passion for her job and commitment to justice make her a force to be reckoned with.

What drew you to police work?

Growing up in Kenya, I saw the challenges facing my community and wanted to make a difference. Police work gave me an opportunity to do that.

What's the biggest challenge of working as a foreign police officer in China?

It can be tough to bridge cultural differences and gain the trust of local communities, but I believe that respect, empathy, and hard work can overcome those barriers.