A distressing video has emerged showing a police officer shooting at protesters during Friday’s demonstrations in the Mwiki area of Kasarani.
In the video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the officer is seen aiming and shooting directly at the protesters before fleeing the scene on a bodaboda.
The protests had erupted after an 18-year-old woman was found murdered by unknown assailants in the area. Kasarani residents took to the streets to protest the killing and demand justice.
The protesters had lit a bonfire along the Sunton–Kasarani road, disrupting businesses for the better part of Friday.
Police had been deployed in the area to disperse the protesters and return business to normalcy when the unfortunate shooting happened.
This incident comes against the backdrop of a troubling pattern of police violence during public demonstrations.
The video sparked outrage among Kenyans on social media, who have raised the alarm over the increasing number of youths being shot by police during protests.
With the upcoming June 25 protests, to honour Gen Zs who lost their lives during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations, many Kenyans have been left questioning whether such shootings will continue.
Currently, two police officers have been arrested following a similar incident witnessed in Nairobi CBD.
Officers Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono were arrested over the shooting of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a mask vendor in the CBD, on Tuesday, June 17, during protests.
The court ordered that the two officers be detained for 15 days to allow the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the incident.
The growing number of such cases has intensified calls for reforms in the security sector. ACK bishops drawn from Nyanza have challenged President William Ruto to disband security units in the country, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, to allow for a clean start.
