Former Kenya Prisons officer Jackson Kuria Kihara, popularly known as Cop Shakur ,has been arrested.
Nairobi News reports that Cop Shakur was apprehended on the afternoon of Thursday, November 27, and is currently held at Thika Prison.
The news of his arrest first emerged through a distress video he shared online moments after being detained.
In the video, which has since gone viral, Cop Shakur revealed that his arrest was due to defaulting on outstanding debts.
ALSO READ: Kenyans turn against Cop Shakur after losing business and wife
“There was an active arrest warrant for me, and Thursday, November 27, was the day police officers managed to apprehend me. I’m going to Thika Prison for failing to pay my debts and for trying to rise again. Earlier in life, I was fired, my life suffered, and I’ve been busy trying to pick up,” he explained.
The embattled former officer also called on comedian Eric Omondi, Oga Obinna, and MP Babu Owino to intervene, urging his fans and followers to share the video widely to attract their attention.
“If anyone can help, please come through. I’m calling upon Eric Omondi, Babu Owino, and Obinna. Some people raised money for me, but it wasn’t enough to clear these debts. I couldn’t handle them, but I hope to rise again and keep fighting,” he said.
Eric Omondi responded on social media, seeking confirmation and further details about the arrest.
“Am trying to reach Cop Shakur. Can someone please confirm this? 🙏🙏🙏🙏,” he wrote.
Cop Shakur’s arrest sparked an outpouring of support from netizens, who flooded his social media pages with messages of encouragement and calls for his release pending resolution of the debts.
This development comes barely two weeks after Cop Shakur officially launched a laundry business, an event attended by notable personalities, including Babu Owino.
Shakur rose to prominence as a prison officer at Kamiti Prison and gained national attention during the 2024 Gen Z anti-finance bill protests in Kenya.
He was dismissed from his position for openly participating in anti-government demonstrations while in uniform, actions that defied both his employer and the state.
Previously, Shakur faced interdiction and a salary cut for similar actions in 2024 but was later reinstated.
In May 2025, he publicly announced his dismissal on social media, describing it as politically motivated.
Following his dismissal, Shakur declared his intention to contest for the Kikuyu Constituency MP seat in the 2027 general election.
ALSO READ: Cop Shakur Resigns From Anti-Brutality Movement FBI
He also formed an activist group called Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) with other former officers.
Since becoming active in advocacy, he has faced multiple arrests, including charges of publishing false information, incitement to mutiny, and alleged affiliation with the FBI group, which authorities investigated for potential links to subversive activities.
He later stepped away from the FBI movement, keeping a low profile before resurfacing with news of his new laundry business.
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