A Kenyan court on June 19 granted investigators 15 days to complete their probe into two Police officers accused of shooting and critically injuring a street hawker during protests in Nairobi. The officers, Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, appeared in court days after the incident, which occurred in full view of the public and media, intensifying public anger over ongoing police brutality. The victim, Boniface Kariuki, remains in critical condition in an intensive care unit.
The protests were sparked by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly spreading false information about a senior officer. While police claim Ojwang fatally injured himself in his cell, activists have challenged that account and called for accountability, including the arrest of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat, who had filed the original complaint against the blogger. Langat has since stepped aside and promised to cooperate with the investigation.
During the court appearance, the accused officers concealed their faces with masks, drawing criticism from activists. Their lawyer dismissed calls for immediate legal action as politically driven, emphasising due process. The incident has revived concerns about Kenya’s long-standing pattern of police violence and extrajudicial killings, despite President William Ruto’s past promises to reform the security forces. The case comes amid rising tensions and public calls for justice and institutional accountability.