The embattled leaders of the Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) movement have strongly denied allegations that their platform is a militia group, insisting that they are peaceful citizens committed to justice, accountability, and constitutional governance in Kenya.
Speaking in Nairobi, Patrick Osoi, the movement’s leader, alongside fellow members Jackson Kuria (alias Cop Shakur) and Hiram Kimathi, said that their activism has been wrongly branded as violent extremism by state authorities seeking to silence dissent. The trio, all former security officers, were arrested in July and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, accused of forming a paramilitary-style group. They were later released on bail.
Osoi stressed that the movement does not advocate violence, forceful seizure of power, or any acts of terrorism, but is instead rooted in the struggle for equality and responsive leadership. “We are not aligned with violence. We do not seek power by force. We seek justice. We seek accountability. We seek freedom. We seek inclusiveness. We seek a responsive government,” he stated.
The FBI leaders criticized what they described as a deliberate attempt by the government to criminalize dissent and manipulate youth empowerment initiatives for political gain. According to Osoi, such schemes are designed to distract and pacify citizens while corruption and mismanagement persist at the highest levels of leadership. “Enough is enough of impunity. We must reclaim our nation from 1963 to date,” he said.
The group outlined a series of demands focused on systemic reform. These include the abolition of punitive taxation policies, recovery of looted public funds, prosecution of corrupt officials regardless of political affiliation, and urgent action to end widespread economic hardship. They also emphasized the need to address the issue of unpaid government bills, which they said amounts to economic brutality against suppliers and small businesses struggling to survive.
Another major concern raised by the movement is police accountability. The FBI leaders called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct an impartial investigation into the violence and killings that occurred during last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests. Osoi argued that those responsible for unlawful orders during peaceful demonstrations must be held accountable to restore public trust in law enforcement.
The group also criticized the misuse of the Terrorism Act of 2015, noting that the law was originally designed to counter the threat of Al-Shabaab but has now been weaponized against peaceful activists. “We demand revision of the Terrorism Act to clearly define terrorism and protect activists who only need a better living and a better Kenya,” Osoi declared.
Despite the terrorism-related charges they face, the leaders of the FBI movement maintain that they will continue pushing for justice, fairness, and the protection of democratic freedoms in Kenya. Their defiance underscores a growing wave of youth-led activism challenging corruption, impunity, and oppressive governance in the country.
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