A Kenyan police officer has been arrested after fatally shooting an unarmed civilian during protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, an incident that has intensified nationwide outrage following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
According to police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the officer responsible for discharging a long-barrel firearm has been arrested and will appear in court. “In light of this incident, the Inspector-General of the National Police Service has ordered the immediate arrest and court appearance of the involved officer,” Nyaga announced.
Footage shared by Citizen Television on X showed two officers striking a man on the head several times. As the man attempted to walk away, one officer raised a gun and fired. The crowd erupted in horror, screaming, “You have killed him.”
Another video published by the Nation newspaper featured a witness who said the victim was a street vendor selling face masks and was not part of the protest.
The protests, which began in Nairobi, have since spread to Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, and other towns, fueled by allegations of police brutality and the unexplained death of Ojwang while in custody.
Human rights activists and civil society groups say the events highlight longstanding issues of extrajudicial killings and impunity among Kenya’s security forces.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that, in addition to the fatality, 21 other people sustained injuries across four counties. The injuries range from gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to tear gas-related asthma attacks.
Calls for justice have mounted from both local and international observers, with many urging a transparent investigation and accountability for all those involved.
