For many, the image marked the first time they had seen a member of the Akurinu community serving in the disciplined forces, prompting surprise, curiosity, and discussion about religious diversity within Kenya’s security services.
The undated photo, widely shared on social media, shows the officer dressed in an Administration Police combat jacket, standing alongside colleagues who are either bareheaded or wearing berets.
Unlike the others, he wears a neatly wrapped cream-coloured turban that matches his uniform and bears the official police seal. The striking image immediately caught public attention.
Prominent journalist and social media commentator Abdikarim Hussein admitted the photo challenged his long-held assumptions.
He noted that despite growing up around a military base, he had never encountered an Akurinu officer in either the police or the military.
Radio presenter Mwende Macharia echoed the surprise, remarking that the country continues to reveal unexpected realities.
Many Kenyans shared similar reactions, saying it was their first time seeing such representation.
Others countered that Akurinu faithful have long served quietly within the forces, though rarely visible due to uniform regulations and limited public exposure.
The discussion also revived interest in the history of the Akurinu movement. Founded in the mid-1920s among the Agikuyu community, the movement emerged during colonial rule as a response to land dispossession, forced labour, heavy taxation, and cultural repression.
Its followers developed distinctive worship practices, including the wearing of white turbans and robes, unique prayer postures, and communal hymn singing.
Colonial authorities viewed the movement with suspicion, often responding with arrests and deportations.
The viral image has since been welcomed by many as a sign of growing inclusivity in Kenya’s institutions, reflecting a nation that continues to embrace its cultural and religious diversity.