NAIROBI, Kenya – Former National Police Service spokesperson Charles Owino has waded into the controversy surrounding the shooting of 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki, suggesting the young hawker may have provoked the officer who shot him during anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi.
Speaking during a live interview on Citizen TV, Owino claimed that footage of the June 17 incident shows Kariuki uttering what he described as an “abusive slur” at one of the officers moments before he was shot at close range along Mondlane Street.
“It was a very simple exchange. If you listen to that clip closely, you will hear that boy abusing the policeman,” Owino said. “But as an officer, you must have restraint. You should shoot him with a rubber bullet if you must. You can see what it has done to the image of the police so far.”
‘A Young Officer May Lose Temper’
While condemning the shooting, Owino appeared to defend the psychological state of the officer involved, arguing that young police officers are more likely to lose control under verbal provocation.
“Such a young boy… if you abuse him, you know what may happen,” he said, referring to Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde, the officer accused of firing the shot. “Police are well trained on the use of firearms, but they will often find themselves in situations where they must make snap decisions without consulting their manuals or superiors.”
Barasa, alongside his colleague Duncan Kiprono, has since been interdicted and is facing prosecution over the shooting.
The two officers are currently in custody as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) investigates the incident.
Charles Owino: If you listen closely to the clip of Boniface, the man who was selling masks when he was shot, you’ll hear him abusing the policeman. The police might use their firearms in some circumstances; however, they should restrain themselves #CitizenDayBreak @SamGituku
Kariuki Confirmed Brain Dead
Meanwhile, Kariuki, who was hit by a live bullet in the head during the protests, was declared brain dead over the weekend.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira said medics at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday.
“Mwangi is confirmed brain dead. We know what it means. We are just waiting for the doctor to tell us he is no more,” Wanjira said.
Doctors previously removed the main bullet from his skull, but several fragments remain lodged in his brain in positions considered too risky to operate on.
Kariuki, a hawker and one of the many young demonstrators who took to the streets demanding police accountability, has become a symbol of state violence in recent weeks.
His case has triggered widespread outrage both online and offline, with the hashtag #JusticeForBoniface trending for days.
Murkomen’s ‘Shoot-On-Sight’ Remarks
Owino also weighed in on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s controversial “shoot-on-sight” directive issued on June 26.
Murkomen had instructed police to open fire on anyone attempting to storm police stations, following violent scenes during the Gen Z-led protests.
While defending the CS’s intentions, Owino clarified that ministers are constitutionally limited to issuing written policy guidance to the Inspector General of Police and cannot lawfully direct operational matters.
“But it reaches a point where a minister is seen to be incapacitated by the actions of people,” Owino said.
His remarks have stirred further debate over the responsibility of political and police leadership in ensuring the constitutional right to life is upheld, even amid public unrest.
Probes Underway
The IPOA has confirmed that investigations into Kariuki’s shooting are ongoing, while pressure continues to mount on the government to provide justice for victims of police violence during the recent wave of protests.
Kariuki’s family, burdened by a hospital bill exceeding Sh2.7 million, has pleaded with Kenyans for support, while also calling for accountability and an end to impunity.
