Jackson Kuria Kihara, popularly known as Cop Shakur, a prison officer who was suspended for participating in anti-Finance Bill protests alongside Kenyan citizens, has been arrested.
On Wednesday, January 15, renowned activist Boniface Mwangi shared the news of his arrest on his official X account.
Mwangi disclosed that Cop Shakur was taken into custody and transported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
The activist further revealed that police officers had raided Shakur’s residence a day earlier, on Tuesday, but did not find him.
Shakur had reportedly left his phone at home, making it difficult for authorities to track him.
However, when he turned his phone back on while at Kamiti Prison the following morning, officers managed to trace his location and arrest him.
“This morning, DCI tracked him after he got back his phone and switched it on,” Mwangi reported.
Following his arrest, Cop Shakur confirmed the development on his X account, stating that he had been taken to the DCI headquarters. However, he did not disclose the reason behind his arrest.
“I am being taken to DCI HQ,” his post read.
Cop Shakur rose to prominence during the Gen Z protests against the Finance Bill in June 2024 when he courageously joined Kenyan youth in the demonstrations, despite being a serving officer.
He stood out for holding a placard that criticized President William Ruto’s administration. The placard read:
“I am doing this on behalf of a government employee who is tired of Zakayo but can’t speak out because kazi itaenda,” referring to fears of losing employment for speaking against the government.
His defiance came at a cost. Following his participation in the protests while still in uniform, Kamiti Maximum Security Prison interdicted him, citing a violation of Rule 124, which prohibits public demonstrations by uniformed officers. Additionally, his salary was slashed by half as part of his punishment.
In a past interview with Citizen TV in August 2014, Shakur spoke about the challenges officers face, explaining that many police personnel comply with orders, even when they believe them to be unlawful, due to fear of losing their jobs.
“Like most people, police usually fear losing their job,” he stated.
Despite facing disciplinary actions and financial setbacks, Shakur remained defiant and unrepentant, clarifying that his intentions were misunderstood.
“I didn’t go to protest. I was just pictured with placards,” he stated, emphasizing that his aim was to seek justice for victims of police brutality during the protests.
Since then, Shakur has used his growing influence to speak on issues affecting ordinary citizens and has become a vocal critic of government policies.
His boldness has inspired many, especially young Kenyans, to stand up against injustices.
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