Sheng Words for Police and Street Life
Updated 2026-02-25, 6 min read
Sheng was born on the streets, so it naturally has a rich vocabulary for urban life, the law and everything in between.
Law enforcement
The many names for the police.
- Karau / Karao – a police officer
- Hessy – a cop
- Njege – the police
- Saigon – a police officer (slang)
- Mambaru – detectives (DCI)
- Sogi – a watchman / security guard
Justice and trouble
What happens when you cross the line.
A note on usage
Some of these words are used casually and playfully, while others are serious. Always be aware of the context and your audience.