Prison warder Jackson Kuria Kihara, alias Cop Shakur, in court in January 2025.
Over the last eight months, Jackson Kuria has seen the inside of jail cells many a time, which the 26-year-old prison warden links to his decision to join the 2024 anti-government demonstrations.
Mr Kuria could soon be charged with illegally being in possession of a firearm, following his arrest in Naivasha and alleged possession of a toy gun police claimed was used in a number of robberies during the Safari Rally.
Also known as Shakur the Cop, his social media moniker, Mr Kuria was based at the Kamiti Maximum Prison prior to his interdiction last year.
He has continued to use social media for activism campaigns, particularly on human rights, even after the interdiction.
“I was detained for more than 72 hours without being taken to court in Naivasha Police Station, people are being kept there for as long as one week without being taken to court,” Mr Kuria said.
Toy gun
In an affidavit filed in court, DCI officer Burure Marwa said that he was investigating Mr Kuria for being in possession of a firearm contrary to section 4(A)(1)(a) of the firearm act of 2014.”
A police officer identified as Mr Enock Kyalo reported that the prison warder had threatened him using the toy gun. The matter was recorded at Naivasha Police Station and recorded under Occurrence Book (OB) number 105/22/03/2025.
“The suspect is connected to other suspects involved in commission of the offence and who are still at large and in hiding upon getting wind of Mr Kuria’s arrest,” the officer said in the affidavit.
His lawyer, Ms Monica Mwai, who is attached to the Defenders Coalition dismissed claims that the prison warder was using the toy gun in committing crime as baseless.
Ms Mwai questioned how a well-trained officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) could inform the court that a toy gun should be taken for ballistics to ascertain whether it had been used in committing crime.
“We cannot allow the police to go on holding Mr Kuria, he was unlawfully detained and it is time we ensure that he is set free,” said Ms Mwai.
Court case
Mr Kuria was in January charged with publishing false information, in violation of section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act.
He was released on cash bail of Sh50,000. The case is still ongoing before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Milimani, Nairobi.
In August 2024, he was interdicted for his participation in anti-government protests that started two months earlier.
“At this point, I do not want more trouble. I am just 26 years old. I have a family to take care of. I have suffered enough. I am not a criminal, and I am being held at Naivasha Police Station. It is a set-up,” Mr Kuria posted on his X account after being arrested in Naivasha.
When images capturing Mr Kuria dressed in police uniform and carrying placards supporting the protests were posted on social media in June 2024, he received praise from members of the public, but condemnation from his employer.
The placards had messages opposing sections of the Finance Bill, such as provisions that would increase the cost of sanitary pads, while opposing the use of live bullets by police to contain protesters.
He also participated in online anti-government protests, through his social media accounts.
On June 26, 2024, just a day after the anti-Finance Bill protests and posting of Mr Kuria’s images on social media, his wife reported the prison warden missing.
Mr Kuria was arrested on July 9, 2024 outside Parliament buildings, during another anti-government demonstration for allegedly participating in an unlawful assembly.
“The officer in charge of Kamiti Medium Prison was contacted and he confirmed the officer works under his command and is currently facing disciplinary proceedings,” a report filed at Parliament Police Station under OB number 36/09/07/2024 read in part.
After four days, his lawyer, Benjamin Njeru, found that Mr Kuria was being held at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. Mr Kuria was later charged with being in an unlawful assembly.
In November 2024, Mr Kuria was briefly reinstated, as he won an award from Defenders Coalition – a partnership of civil society groups and individual activists – for standing up for human rights.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Kuria was interdicted again.
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