Vocal protest organizer Shad Khalif released after arrest

Shad, who shot to fame back in June after playing a hugely instrumental role in planning the first round of the anti-Finance Bill protests, revealed on his X account on Thursday, July 25 that he had been arrested and booked at the Kamukunji Police Station.

"I’ve been arrested I’m being taken to Kamukunji police..." he wrote on X.

Just an hour earlier, Shad had revealed that he was in the CBD in readiness for the 'Mashujaa Wetu March'. 

Revealing that he was ready to distribute t-shirts and flags to the protesters, he wrote: "Good morning and we are outside! I have a number of flags and t-shirts. Handing them out on a first come first get basis. You see you get a tee or a flag. #RutoMustGo!" 

Not so long after, Shad posted a photo of men in hoodies, fearing that they may have been out to arrest him. 

"F**k the hoodies guys are coming for me!" he wrote. Later, he confirmed his fears: "I have been arrested by the hooded guys." 

It was later revealed that Shad was arrested at the Java Cafe, Kimathi Street, as he was sorting out posters and t-shirts to distribute to demonstrators. 

A CCTV video showed hooded police officers, also in plain clothes, approaching Shad as he sat at the balcony section of the Java outlet. They then ushered him out and directed him into their waiting van. 

All day, intermittent reports revealed Shad's whereabouts. At some point, his own X account tweeted that he had been transferred from Central Police to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) police station. 

"Currently being processed at JKIA DCI, I actually did my #OccupyJKIA..." he wrote. 

As the day progressed, thousands of Kenyans on X continued to agitate for his release, with posters written 'Fred Shad' dominating the X timeline.

More than 24 hours after his arrest, Shad has now returned to X, shading a photo of himself smiling, with the Kenyan flag still proudly wrapped around his neck. 

"#Free again. Form ya next ni when? They confiscated my phone for “further analysis” though. #RutoMustGo!" he wrote. 

Advocate Nthia Nadia and X personality Nyandia Gachago were some of the most prominent voices who kept up the pressure for his release while also divulging information on his whereabouts and current state of mind and health.

Just after his release, the two women revealed some of the intrigues at the JKIA station where he was held.

Nyandia Gachago wrote, "Last night I tweeted something and then very fast deleted it. Here goes Now that we have Shad @Shad_khalif. DCI should join Churchill live. They denied us access to @Shad_khalif then called us at 9 pm asking us to send his meds to DCI JKIA. JESUS CHRIST. It was such a movie!"

Backing up Gachago's tweet, Nadia added, "Buana they called at 10 PM asking us to send his meds to JKIA when the entire day they kept saying he’s not there and they don’t have him! Mungu awasamehe!"

This is not the first time Shad has fallen afoul with the law enforcement authorities for his prominent involvement in the anti-government protests.

Exactly a month ago, CCTV footage showed Khalif getting abducted by unknown people at the La Enzi shopping mall in South B,  Nairobi on a Sunday evening. 

It was believed that Khalif was trailed to the location by three men in a White Toyota Prado and another black double cab pickup before being pounced on and the abductors driving away at high speed with the victim.