NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into police conduct during Tuesday’s anti-brutality protests in Nairobi, raising alarm over what it calls serious failures in public order management and accountability following the point-blank shooting of hawker Boniface Mwangi Kariuki.
In a statement released Wednesday, IPOA confirmed that at least 13 people sustained serious injuries during the demonstrations, including Kariuki, who remains hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit after being shot in the head by a uniformed police officer near Imenti House.
“The shooting of Mr. Kariuki highlights professional policing gaps that have to be bridged in public order management and adherence to the rights of arrested persons,” IPOA said.
The protests, sparked by the custodial death of teacher and influencer Albert Ojwang, turned chaotic in parts of Nairobi as demonstrators clashed with police.
IPOA noted that Tuesday’s violence is part of a troubling pattern of deaths and injuries linked to excessive use of force by law enforcement.
Under the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act, the police are legally obligated to report incidents involving deaths or serious injuries to IPOA.
The Authority revealed that no such report had been made in this case.
Underfunded and Underequipped
IPOA also used the occasion to shine a light on the challenges hampering its capacity to conduct timely and thorough investigations.
It disclosed that despite owning advanced digital forensics tools—including Cellebrite technology used to retrieve and analyse digital evidence—critical investigations have stalled due to expired software licenses and budget shortfalls.
“To retrieve and analyse CCTV footage from Central Police Station, IPOA had to request external technical support because our Cellebrite licence has not been renewed due to lack of funding,” the Authority said.
It is now appealing for enhanced technical capacity, operational funding, and public awareness resources to enable it to fulfill its constitutional mandate under Article 244, which demands accountability and professionalism from the police.
Call for Compliance
IPOA is urging Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure that all officers and units comply fully with existing legislative frameworks on the use of force and public order policing.
“Public confidence and trust in the National Police Service can only be restored through full compliance and transparency,” the Authority stated.
The watchdog reaffirmed its commitment to conducting impartial investigations and delivering justice to victims of police misconduct.
