Former prisons officer Jackson Kuria widely known as Cop Shakur has stirred a heated debate online after claiming that government officials once approached him to join a team of bloggers supporting the administration of William Ruto.
In a strong Facebook post Shakur said he rejected the proposal because he did not want to take what he described as blood money. His message quickly spread across social media where many users began discussing the power of political influencers in Kenya.
Shakur explained that the offer came last year when people linked to the government allegedly reached out to him. They wanted him to help push pro government messages online and defend the administration on social media platforms.
The activist said he refused the offer despite the financial benefits that could have come with the role. He said he preferred to remain independent and continue speaking freely about issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
Cop Shakur first gained national attention during the 2024 youth protests against the Finance Bill. At the time he was still serving as a prisons officer but openly joined demonstrations that were largely driven by young Kenyans.
His participation in the protests shocked many people because he was a serving officer. Images of him carrying protest placards quickly went viral and he later faced disciplinary action and legal pressure over his activism.
In his recent claims Shakur named three online personalities whom he alleged now work as government aligned bloggers. He listed Morara Kebaso, Calvince Okoth widely known as Gaucho and Robert Alai.
According to Shakur these individuals once criticised the government but later joined a network of paid online voices. He claimed their salaries are funded using public taxes collected from Kenyan citizens.
The former officer alleged that Gaucho earns about one hundred and fifty thousand shillings each month. He said the payment is meant to support online messaging that promotes the government.
Shakur also claimed Morara Kebaso presents himself as independent while allegedly working behind the scenes to attack opposition figures. He said the activist spends much of his time confronting leaders who criticise the current administration.
He added that he knows many other bloggers who are allegedly involved in similar arrangements. However he did not provide documents or other evidence to support the claims made in the Facebook post.
The accusations have triggered strong reactions online. Some users praised Shakur for speaking out while others dismissed the claims as political attacks without proof.
The debate has renewed public interest in how social media influences politics in Kenya. Many observers say digital platforms have become a powerful space where narratives are shaped and public opinion is often contested.