Activist Jackson Kuria Kihara, known as Cop Shakur, has alleged that the Kenyan government has blocked his attempts to resign from the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS). In an interview on Tuesday, January 21, Kihara revealed that he had submitted two resignation letters, both of which went unanswered. The officer, who gained attention for his involvement in anti-finance bill protests in June 2023, explained that he had decided to leave the security force in order to focus on his activism.
Kihara, who has become a vocal critic of police actions, particularly in relation to human rights violations, confirmed that his resignation efforts have been met with resistance. “I have written two resignation letters and none has been responded to. They said they won’t let me go, they even told my lawyer the exact thing,” he stated, indicating that his request to leave the force has been denied by the authorities.
His move towards activism has led to disciplinary action, including his suspension from duty and a subsequent posting to a hardship area as punishment. Reflecting on his reasons for joining the activist movement, Kihara shared, “After the Gen Z protests, I was interdicted, reinstated, and posted to a hardship area as punishment.” Despite the challenges, he remains resolute in his decision to speak out against unlawful actions within the security sector.
Kihara has also condemned actions like extra-judicial killings and abductions. He expressed his strong stance against these unlawful practices, urging his fellow officers to resist illegal orders. “I will always stand for justice. I knew having a sniper on top of KICC shooting harmless Kenyans was wrong. I know abductions are wrong, extra-judicial killings are wrong,” he said. “I want to urge every officer in the service not to follow unlawful orders.”
In addition to his activism, Kihara is facing charges for allegedly publishing false information on social media. He denied the charges and was granted a bond of Kes. 100,000. His case is scheduled for mention on February 17, 2025.
