NAIROBI, Kenya — A boda boda operator who survived after being shot seven times during the recent fuel protests in Ruiru has demanded justice, accusing police officers of using excessive force against civilians during the demonstrations.
Daniel Gichimu, a Gen Z rider based in Ruiru, sustained multiple injuries after he was allegedly shot by men believed to be police officers during the May 18 protests over rising fuel prices and the cost of living.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Gichimu said doctors at Kiambu Level V Hospital managed to remove four bullets from his body, while three others remain lodged inside him.
“I am persevering because I am in a lot of pain because three bullets are still lodged in my body,” Gichimu said from his hospital bed.
Rider Says He Was Not Part of the Demonstrations
Gichimu maintained that he was not participating in the protests and was instead working at a boda boda stage when chaos erupted.
According to his account, protesters fleeing from anti-riot police ran toward the stage where he was stationed moments before officers allegedly opened fire.
“I was at the boda boda stage when a crowd which was running away from the police ran towards my direction. I was shot by officers who sped off in a vehicle,” he narrated.
The rider said he initially did not realise he had been shot until fellow boda boda operators rushed him to a hospital in Ruiru for emergency treatment.
However, due to the severity of his injuries, he was later referred to Kiambu Level V Hospital for specialised care.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over police conduct during public demonstrations, particularly the use of force against civilians caught near protest scenes.
Lawyer Accuses Police of Brutality
Gichimu’s lawyer, Patrick Kung’u, condemned the shooting and described his client as a victim of police brutality.
“We thank God that they were rubber bullets, but that is not to say that it is excusable because my client was not a threat to the safety of anyone. There was no justification to shoot him at close range,” Kung’u said.
The lawyer argued that the officers involved should be identified and held accountable under the law.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 protects citizens from arbitrary use of force by law enforcement officers. Article 29 guarantees every person the right to freedom and security, including protection from violence and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The incident may also raise questions under the National Police Service Act and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) framework, which governs police accountability and investigations into excessive use of force.
Four Dead, Dozens Injured in Fuel Protests
Gichimu is among at least 30 people injured during the May 18 fuel protests, which erupted in several towns as demonstrators protested high fuel prices and the rising cost of living.
Authorities confirmed that four protesters died during the unrest, while hundreds of others were arrested.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have continued to call for independent investigations into the handling of the protests, warning that excessive force risks undermining constitutional freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly under Article 37 of the Constitution.
