Police officers during protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, where a mask vendor was shot on the head at a close range by the police. Photo: Marigiri Facebook.
Leaders in the country have called out the Kenya Kwanza government for deploying goons to disrupt peaceful protesters demanding justice for X blogger Albert Ojwang’.
The outrage follows a chilling video showing a police officer shooting a mask vendor at close range at Moi Avenue o Tuesday afternoon. The unarmed vendor identified as Eli Joshua, was standing next to a closed shop, when two police officers brutally beat hi up before one of them pulling the trigger.
The video shows the officers walking away, leaving the shot man lying on the ground, almost lifeless, heading towards other demonstrators. The Red Cross team coming to assist the man was teargassed, with reports on social media stating that he is still alive.
Some of the reactions by leaders:
“The Kenyan government is flying across oceans to “help Haiti fight gangs” while unleashing gangs to kill its own citizens at home. You don’t export peace while importing death. You don’t claim moral duty abroad while murdering justice at home, ” Lawyer Willis Otieno.
“Another endless extrajudicial execution. How many deaths will it take for you to stop this?” Martha Karua.
“That single, barbaric act should have been the final straw. That shooting alone should have ignited a national uprising not just outrage online, but boots on the streets, voices raised, fists clenched until this illegitimate regime is brought down! Something has to give. And if we don’t rise now, we are complicit in our own destruction. Enough is ENOUGH! ” Jeremiah Kioni.
“The cold-blooded shooting of an unarmed mask vendor at close range by a police officer during protests in the CBD is tragic and a shocking abuse of power by police. The role of the police is to protect citizens, including protesters exercising their constitutional rights and not to stand by as marauding goons unleash terror on innocent people. While we condemn these actions, that police officer must be identified, arrested and charged,” Gideon Moi.
“Are these the same police officers now in court over the murder of Albert Ojwang?, now caught on camera shooting another person point blank,” Hussein Khalid.
“The only reason police officers can kill so confidently in broad daylight is because they know they’re protected by their Commander in-Chief. Full stop. No debate. Imagine what they did to Albert at Night??”Lynn Ngugi.
The protesters took on the street demanding justice for Ojwang’ who was killed at Central Police Station, after he was arrested following complain from DIG Eliud Lagat.
