NAIROBI, Kenya — The two police officers captured on video brutally assaulting and shooting a street vendor in broad daylight are expected in court today — a move many Kenyans are calling a long-overdue step toward justice.
Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, both members of the anti-riot squad, were caught on camera cornering 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki along Nairobi’s Moi Avenue during Tuesday’s protests.
In the now-viral video, the officers are seen shoving and striking Kariuki before one of them fires a shot at close range, leaving him motionless on the pavement as they flee the scene.
Kariuki, who was selling face masks to protesters at the time, underwent emergency neurosurgery at Kenyatta National Hospital and remains in critical condition.
The footage sparked a national uproar, with human rights activists, lawyers, and the general public demanding swift accountability.
Pressure intensified after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo publicly called for both officers to be arrested and prosecuted, arguing that they acted in concert and must be held jointly responsible.
“It’s not just about the officer who pulled the trigger,” Odhiambo said. “His partner is equally culpable. They acted together, and they must answer together.”
The National Police Service confirmed the officers’ arrest on Wednesday night, and their arraignment today marks the beginning of what could become a landmark case in Kenya’s ongoing battle against police brutality.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), long criticized for inaction, is now under fresh pressure to deliver a thorough investigation.
Civil society groups are also demanding transparency throughout the trial process, warning that public trust will further erode if justice is delayed or denied.
Tuesday’s protests — triggered by the controversial death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody — have escalated into a broader reckoning over state violence. Many see Kariuki’s shooting as part of a disturbing pattern, not an isolated incident.
As the arraignment begins, all eyes are on the courtroom.
Because for Boniface Kariuki, who still fights for his life, and for many others who’ve suffered in silence, this moment could finally tip the scales — from impunity to accountability.
