NAIROBI, Kenya- As authorities probe the killing of Rex Kanyike Masai, a 29-year-old man, Kenyans and mostly those on social media are not standing idly by.
Taking matters into their own hands, tech-savvy youth are leveraging social media and technology to try to identify the police officer responsible for Masai’s death.
The incident has sparked a wave of online activism and digital detective work, showcasing the powerful role of technology in the fight for justice.
On Thursday, during the countrywide protests against the controversial Financial Bill 2024, Masai was shot dead by a plainclothes officer in Nairobi.
While the protests were largely peaceful, the police response was marked by excessive force, including the use of live bullets, water cannons, and teargas canisters.
This heavy-handed approach has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations like ICJ-Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya and the public alike.
In the wake of Masai’s killing, Kenyas on social media have mobilized online, sharing and analyzing pictures of suspected officers involved in the incident.
These efforts have been amplified across various social media platforms, including X formerly Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok, with the aim of pinpointing the officer responsible.
The photos being circulated are pending verification.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the civilian body mandated to investigate police misconduct and killings, is currently investigating the incident.
However, many Kenyans, particularly the youth, are skeptical about the speed and outcome of official investigations.
This skepticism has fueled a grassroots movement where digital tools are being used to gather evidence and crowdsource information.
Tech-savvy youth are employing a range of techniques to identify the killer cop. From enhancing video footage to scrutinizing photographs for identifiable features.
Some are even using facial recognition software and cross-referencing images with available public records to narrow down on the suspected officer.
Picketing is a legal right in Kenya, enshrined in the constitution, yet it is often met with violent repression by authorities.
The current wave of protests and the subsequent police response have once again brought this issue to the forefront.
Various efforts to reform the National Police Service from change of uniform and name to training curriculum have bore little fruits according to human rights activists.
