Police name, interdict two officers linked to hawker shooting during protest over Albert Ojwang's murder
In a statement on Wednesday, NPS named the officers as Police Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde (Service No. 119413) and Police Constable Duncan Kiprono (Service Number 117193).
The National Police Service (NPS) has interdicted two officers implicated in the shooting of an unarmed hawker during Tuesday’s anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi, amid growing public pressure for accountability.
In a statement on Wednesday, NPS named the officers as Police Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde (service number 119413) and Police Constable Duncan Kiprono (service number 117193).
More To Read
- Collins Ouma: How guard who faced wrongful arrest, police brutality ended up getting justice after 12 years
- Police detain NIS officer accused of shooting friend dead at Kasarani liquor store
- IPOA responds to claims of mishandled evidence in Albert Ojwang's murder probe
- Court orders DCI to probe use of Talaam’s phone to solicit money while in IPOA custody
- Constable James Mukhwana remanded for 21 days pending investigations into Albert Ojwang's murder
- Activists propose arrest powers for IPOA amid rising cases of police brutality
“The two officers have now been interdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action,” the statement read in part.
NPS said the victim, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, is recuperating in stable condition at Kenyatta National Hospital following successful surgery.
“The National Police Service (NPS) deeply regrets this unjustified act and commiserates with the victim and his family, while reaffirming its full commitment to ensuring justice is served,” NPS stated.
Kariuki was shot at close range by a uniformed officer, an incident that was caught on video and widely shared online.
Videos circulating online showed two police officers confronting Kariuki, who stood on a sidewalk near Imenti House.
One officer beat him twice before the second officer stepped back, drew his weapon, and fired at point-blank range. Kariuki collapsed on the pavement as passersby screamed in shock.
The naming and interdiction of the officers comes in the wake of mounting criticism from rights groups and professional bodies, including the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which had demanded public disclosure of the officers involved.
On Wednesday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo slammed the initial police response as vague and insufficient, warning that unchecked impunity within the service was eroding public confidence.
In its statement, the society condemned what it described as excessive use of force by officers during the protests and raised alarm over alleged coordination between police and armed civilian gangs.
The protests, sparked by the killing of university student Albert Ojwang, left at least 16 people injured in Nairobi, according to rights monitors. LSK condemned the shooting of Kariuki, calling for Justice.
“The footage and other evidence point to a troubling picture of a law enforcement system that is enabling, if not actively participating in, violence, theft, and intimidation,” the LSK said.
The society also flagged reports of masked groups wielding blunt weapons and attacking demonstrators while under police escort.
“These groups were not part of the peaceful protests but rather appeared to be criminal elements working under police protection,” LSK noted.
The society reiterated its demand for swift prosecutions and insisted that accountability must begin with naming and legally pursuing individuals involved in unlawful violence.
Top Stories Today
