NAIROBI, Kenya – Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo has demanded the immediate arrest of a second police officer involved in the brutal assault and shooting of a street vendor during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi.
Speaking on Spice FM, Odhiambo condemned what she described as “state-sponsored violence” and argued that the officer who accompanied the one captured on video shooting the unarmed vendor should also be held accountable.
“It’s not just the shooter,” she said. “His colleague was also right there, and he is an accessory. You see them pushing the victim and then running away together. They are part and parcel and must be held accountable.”
The disturbing incident, caught on camera and widely circulated online, showed two anti-riot police officers assaulting a young man selling face masks along Moi Avenue before one of them shot him in the head at point-blank range.
The attack occurred as protests demanding justice for Albert Ojwang’ — a 31-year-old who died in police custody — swept through the city.
While the National Police Service (NPS) announced on Tuesday that the shooter had been arrested, Odhiambo questioned the lack of transparency, calling on police to publicly name the officer.
“I’m still waiting to see an official statement that names this officer. The public has already done the legwork — they’ve identified him and even tracked down his family,” she said.
Faith Odhiambo: The police officer who was with the shooter should also be brought to book, since he is an accessory.#TheSituationRoom
Odhiambo also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to break its silence and issue a comprehensive update on the investigations, saying Kenyans deserve accountability, not vague reassurances.
The unidentified victim was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital and underwent emergency neurosurgery, according to Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth. His condition remains critical.
The shooting has intensified public outrage, with youth-led demonstrations escalating into confrontations after suspected hired goons infiltrated the protests.
Many demonstrators were calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who has been linked to Ojwang’s controversial death.
“The brutality we are witnessing is not isolated — it’s systemic. This culture of impunity must end,” Odhiambo added.
Public pressure continues to mount on the NPS, IPOA, and Interior Ministry to not only bring rogue officers to justice but also address what many Kenyans are calling a deepening crisis of police accountability.
