- Despite interdiction, Kuria remains resolute in his stance
- Superiors cited Kuria for violating rule 124 leading to interdiction
- Kuria remains defiant and committed to his cause, continuing to demand justice
A 25-year-old prison officer, Jackson Kuria Kihara, widely known as Shakur the Cop, has been interdicted after being actively involved in anti-government protests.
Shakur, who was serving at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, found himself under investigation after being photographed holding placards during the demonstrations.
Despite his interdiction, Shakur remains resolute in his stance. In an interview on Citizen TV, he clarified the circumstances surrounding his involvement in the protests.
“I’m still a cop but I was interdicted a month ago. I’m receiving half of my salary until the case is concluded,” he explained.
He emphasised that his participation was driven by a desire for justice rather than an opposition to the government.
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“First of all, I didn’t go to protest; I was just pictured holding placards, and then the other time, I went to parliament to protest.
"I was demanding justice for people who were killed during the anti-government protests—people who were peacefully protesting. I was not doing anything wrong; I am not against the government,” he added.
One of the placards Shakur carried indicated that he was speaking on behalf of millions of government employees who are dissatisfied with the current administration but fear repercussions for voicing their concerns.
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Consequences of Shakur's dissent
The officer’s bold actions did not go unnoticed by his superiors at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
Shakur was cited for violating rule 124, leading to his interdiction. As a result, he now receives only half of his salary until the matter is resolved.
Despite this, he remains defiant and committed to his cause. On 9 July, Shakur was again in the spotlight when he was arrested near the parliament buildings during another protest.
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A patriot's resolve
Shakur’s interdiction has not dampened his resolve. He firmly believes that his actions are in the best interest of the country and that he is fulfilling his duty as a patriot.
“I was demanding justice for those who lost their lives during peaceful protests,” he reiterated, underscoring his commitment to speaking out for the voiceless.