Jackson Kuria, alias 'Cop Shakur' detained for 21 days

Kihara appeared at the Milimani Court on January 16 a day after his arrest at his residence within Kamiti Prison.

After being presented before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, the DCI applied to detain him for 21 days over allegations of incitement to mutiny and providing false information.

The activist, who shot to fame during the height of the Gen Z protests, had earlier taken to his X account to ask Kenyans to help him raise his cash bail, adding that the DCI had taken his phone and sim card.

"I'm currently at Milimani law court. The DCI denied me a phone call. They have my phone and line. I'm calling upon the public to help me raise my cash bail," he wrote.

Just after his arrest on Wednesday, January 15, Kihara took to his X account to announce the news.

He wrote: "I have been arrested by DCI officers in Kamiti."

He later updated his more than 5,000 X followers, writing, "Am being taken to DCI HQ."

News of his arrest was confirmed by popular activist Boniface Mwangi who detailed the sequence of the arrest and the moments which led to his eventual capture.

"@CopShakur has been arrested in Kamiti. He had left his phone at home yesterday, and the police showed up but he wasn't there," he wrote.

"This morning DCI tracked him after he got back his phone, and switched it on. He hasn't been told the reason for his arrest or where they will take him."

The officer, who later lost his job, gained widespread attention during the Gen Z protests, where he broke ranks and joined Kenyan youths in protesting against the Kenya Kwanza government.

His solo protests went viral after he was photographed severally holding up anti-government placards, an act which immediately plunged him into trouble.

One of the most viral placards read: "I am doing this on behalf of a government employee who is tired of Zakayo but can't say anything because kazi itaenda."

As a result of his unconventional actions against the government that employed him, Shakur's salary was halved as punishment.

His participation in the protests while in uniform also led to his interdiction by the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, citing a violation of rule 124.

In an interview with Citizen Digital in July 2024, Shakur revealed that many officers follow orders, even when they know them to be unlawful, out of fear of losing their jobs.

“A lot of people found it bold that a cop was protesting. Most of us have a difficult time; some even commit suicide because of depression. They cannot question anything, yet they are overworked and underpaid. When you speak out, you are victimized, like me. Some get transferred or interdicted,” he said.

Kuria also said that he knew he would be targeted, having seen colleagues suffer for speaking out about welfare issues before.

“I knew what was coming my way and the effects of my decision to protest. While some colleagues find my decision bold, others do not, leading to victimization,” he said.

“I was victimized at work to the point where I was told to eat convict’s food while my case was in progress. Imagine going through that for peacefully fighting for your rights. Is speaking against the high cost of living a crime?” he added.