Police are seeking an additional five days to detain Jackson Kuria Kihara, widely known as ‘Cop Shakur,’ a former prison warder arrested over the weekend in Naivasha for allegedly possessing an unlicensed firearm.
In a miscellaneous application, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that they are pursuing more suspects who were with Kuria at the World Rally Championship (WRC) rally village in Naivasha at the time of his arrest.
Jackson Kuria Kihara, 32, gained prominence in mid-2024 during the ‘Gen Z’ protests, where he was photographed holding placards criticizing the government’s policies.
His participation led to disciplinary actions, including a salary reduction and eventual interdiction from his position as a prison warder at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
On January 15, 2025, Kuria was arrested at his residence within the Kamiti Prison staff quarters by DCI officers.
The arrest was linked to his alleged involvement in publishing false information on social media, specifically accusing government officials of abductions.
He was subsequently charged with publishing false information, an offense under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
Following his arrest, police sought to detain Kuria for 21 days to facilitate further investigations into allegations of incitement to mutiny and cybercrime offenses.
However, the court granted a three-day detention period, during which police confiscated his phone for forensic analysis.
At the time of his arrest, Kuria was allegedly in the company of other individuals at the WRC rally village in Naivasha, prompting the DCI to request additional time to identify and investigate these associates.
The arrest of Kuria has sparked mixed reactions.
Supporters view him as a whistleblower standing against government injustices, while critics argue that his actions, especially during his tenure as a prison officer, were unprofessional and potentially harmful to national security
Kuria has been charged with publishing false information and was released on a cash bail of KSh 50,000.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case is scheduled for mention on February 17, 2025.
The DCI continues to investigate Kuria’s activities, including his alleged possession of an unlicensed firearm and his associations during the WRC rally in Naivasha.
The additional five-day detention request underscores the complexity of the investigation and the need to question other individuals linked to Kuria.
