Kamiti prison warden arrested while protesting outside Parliament

He said he was seeking justice for those killed in the recent anti-tax protests.

In Summary
  • The warden attached to Kamiti Medium Prison had arrived outside the Senate gate with a group of supporters amid the rains.
  • Parliament Road has been full of security officials since it was breached by protesters on June 25.
Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Cop Shakur being arrested outside Parliament on Tuesday, July 10,2024./
Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Cop Shakur being arrested outside Parliament on Tuesday, July 10,2024./
Image: SCREENGRAB

A prison warden popularly known as Cop Shakur on social media was Tuesday arrested while protesting outside the Parliament Building.

Videos shared online showed him dressed in blood-stained white dustcoat while raising a placard.

He said he was seeking justice for those killed in the recent anti-tax protests.

“We want justice, not your condolences,” read part of the placard.

The warden attached to Kamiti Medium Prison had arrived outside the Senate gate with a group of supporters amid the rains.

Parliament Road has been full of security officials since it was breached by protesters on June 25.

The protester first engaged security officials at the gate in a push-and-pull game as he tried to access the precincts and blocked motorists from getting in and out.

A few minutes later, more police officers arrived and grabbed him before dragging him to the Parliament police cells.

The team tore his coat as they struggled to drag him away saying his protest was illegal.

He briefly resisted before cooperating and they walked away.

It was after they arrived at the station that he identified himself as Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Shakur, a prison warden attached to Kamiti Medium prison.

Police said they are investigating the incident and intend to seek more information on him from the prison authorities.

He was later moved to Central Police Station ahead of planned arraignment.

Police authorities say they continue to face protests at various levels over the dropped Finance Bill 2024, those killed and those detained.

More than 42 people were killed in the protests while dozens of others were arrested.

More than 400 were injured in the protests and are nursing wounds in various facilities.

Several government agencies are investigating several issues emanating from the protests.

They include shooting dead of the protesters, looting, arson and robberies among others.

The protests forced President William Ruto to decline to sign the bill.

He has since launched a national dialogue to discuss the issues raised by the protesters amid resistance.

Discontent over the already high cost of living spiralled into nationwide protests, sparked by proposed tax hikes in the annual finance bill, which was however rejected.

Protest organisers called for the police to be held accountable for the shooting incidents.

Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Cop Shakur being arrested outside Parliament on Tuesday, July 10,2024./
Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Cop Shakur being arrested outside Parliament on Tuesday, July 10,2024./
Image: SCREENGRAB
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