Kenyan police shoot protester at close range during latest protests
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan police fatally shot an innocent bystander at close range on Tuesday during ongoing protests following the death of a blogger in police custody earlier this month, triggering widespread outrage and calls for justice.
A journalist from the Associated Press witnessed the masked officer shoot the unarmed man at point-blank range with what appeared to be a shotgun. The victim, who was holding a packet of face masks, was reportedly a street vendor caught in a confrontation with two officers while standing on a sidewalk in Nairobi. The officer shot him in the head as he tried to walk away.
The injured man was taken to Kenya’s largest government hospital for treatment, along with 10 others wounded in the protest. The hospital spokesperson confirmed that some of the injuries were from gunshot wounds.
In a statement, the police expressed concern over the incident and announced that the officer responsible had been arrested.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in the capital on Tuesday, demanding the arrest of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat, who had filed a defamation complaint against the late blogger, Albert Ojwang. Ojwang was arrested on June 6 and died in police custody.
Langat announced on Monday that he would step aside to allow for investigations and pledged to cooperate with the authorities. The officer in charge of the Central Police Station where the blogger passed away, Samson Talam, and his colleague James Mukhwana were arrested last week.
The protests turned violent as motorcycle riders targeted demonstrators and bystanders, stealing their belongings. A motorcycle was set on fire, and several individuals sustained injuries during the clashes.
Kenya has a troubling history of police brutality, with President William Ruto previously pledging to eradicate such practices, including extrajudicial killings.
In the past, Kenyan police have been accused of abducting and killing activists and protesters during demonstrations against financial policies. These incidents led to calls for President Ruto’s removal from office.
