NAIROBI, Kenya — Two police officers, Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, accused of shooting a masked street vendor during anti-police protests in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday, have been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.
The officers were transported to court on Thursday aboard a Toyota Premio and held in the court cells prior to their appearance. Dressed in black trousers, heavy coats, and face masks, they were escorted side-by-side into the cells.
The shooting incident occurred on June 17 along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s CBD amidst demonstrations that were triggered by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
The hawker, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, was shot in the head at close range in broad daylight by one of the officers as protestors demanded justice for Ojwang.
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Kariuki was subsequently rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he is currently recuperating in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The shooting sparked widespread public outrage and drew condemnation from civil rights groups and various political leaders. Following the incident, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had ordered the immediate arrest of the two officers pending investigations.
