Two police constables accused of shooting an unarmed mask vendor during the June 17 protests in Nairobi have been ordered to remain in custody for 15 days. The court ruling marks a critical step in investigations into the viral incident that shocked the nation.
Highlights:
- Constables Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono appeared in Milimani court
- They are accused of shooting Boniface Kariuki during anti-Finance Bill protests
- Court ordered the duo to be held at Capitol Hill Police Station for 15 days
- Investigations are being led by the DCI Homicide Unit
- Public continues to demand accountability for police brutality
Main Story:
Constables Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono will spend the next 15 days at Capitol Hill Police Station following a court order issued during their appearance at Milimani Law Courts. The two officers are at the center of a probe into the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a young man selling masks, during the Nairobi protest.
The court agreed to a request from investigators to detain the officers as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continues gathering evidence. The officers’ detention will aid efforts to determine the exact circumstances behind the shooting, which was captured on video and widely circulated online.
The clip showing Kariuki being shot in broad daylight triggered widespread condemnation and reignited debate over police accountability. The young vendor is currently recovering after undergoing brain surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Human rights groups, activists, and citizens have lauded the legal move as a step in the right direction. However, many insist that remanding the officers is only the beginning — they are demanding full justice and structural reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
As two officers sit behind bars, the country waits—will this case finally set the tone for true police accountability?
