Nairobi – An unarmed street vendor was shot dead by police on Tuesday, June 17, during protests in Nairobi over the death of teacher and activist Albert Ojwang in police custody. The hawker, who was selling masks near Imenti House, was gunned down at close range in broad daylight.
The shooting, captured on mobile phone cameras, showed two armed officers confronting the man. Moments later, one officer raised his gun and fired. The man collapsed immediately. He was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.
“This man was just selling water. He was just shot at close range as he stood there. This is so wrong!” cried a bystander moments after the gunfire. The two officers were seen walking away without offering aid or sounding an alarm.
Witnesses at the scene described the vendor as peaceful and unarmed. “He wasn’t even part of the protest. He was just doing his hustle,” said Brian Mwangi, who stood nearby when the shooting happened.
The National Police Service later confirmed the officer involved had been arrested. “The officer who discharged his firearm has since been arrested. An investigation is ongoing,” read the official statement released Tuesday evening. The statement did not include the officer’s name or rank.
The protests began early Tuesday in the Nairobi central business district. Demonstrators were demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, who was arrested on June 6 in Homa Bay and later found dead at Central Police Station in Nairobi. Police initially claimed Ojwang collapsed in custody, but an autopsy revealed signs of blunt force trauma, neck compression, and internal injuries consistent with torture.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has named 17 police officers as suspects in Ojwang’s death. Three officers, including the officer in charge of Central Police Station, have been arrested. Civilian detainees and a technician who managed the police CCTV system are also under investigation.
Tensions escalated during Tuesday’s protest as masked men on motorbikes identified by protesters as hired goons attacked demonstrators. Two motorbikes were torched in retaliation. Protesters accused police of shielding the attackers.
Several journalists covering the protest reported being harassed and robbed. The police did not respond to the incidents, fueling accusations of deliberate interference in the protest.
Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, whose complaint reportedly led to Ojwang’s arrest, announced he had “stepped aside” on Monday. Protesters rejected the move, calling it a distraction from accountability.
“Stepping aside is not justice. Eliud Lagat must be arrested and charged,” said Hussein Khalid, speaking on behalf of the protesters.
Tuesday’s shooting added to a growing list of police killings targeting young Kenyans, especially those involved in anti-government protests. Since June 2024, dozens of young men have died in similar incidents during demonstrations against the Finance Bill and alleged police excesses.
“He was not part of the protest. He was trying to make a living. Now his life is gone,” said Cynthia Achieng, who witnessed the shooting.
As public anger builds, organizers vowed to continue pushing for justice. “We are not backing down,” said student leader Daniel Okoth. “If they think they can silence us with bullets, they are wrong. We’ll be back.”
