A hawker was shot dead by police during protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday, sparking fresh outrage over alleged police brutality amid ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a blogger and teacher who died in police custody last week.
Eyewitnesses identified the victim as a street vendor selling masks and water to protesters near Imenti House when he was confronted by two armed officers.
Mobile phone footage circulating online shows one officer firing at the man at close range before both casually walking away as the victim collapsed.
“Damn, he has shot him!” a protester can be heard shouting in the video.
The man later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Police Headquarters confirmed the arrest of the officer involved but did not provide further details.
“This man was just selling water. He was shot for no reason—this is murder!” a distraught woman wailed at the scene. Witnesses said the victim was unarmed and posed no threat.
“He wasn’t even protesting. He was just hustling. How do you justify shooting him?” asked Brian Mwangi, a protester who witnessed the incident.
What began as a peaceful demonstration against Ojwang’s death descended into chaos as riot police clashed with protesters, and suspected hired goons on motorcycles attacked demonstrators.
At least two motorcycles were set ablaze by angry crowds who accused the riders of robbing protesters under police protection.
Journalists covering the protests reported harassment, theft of equipment, and assaults, with no immediate police intervention—fueling accusations of state-backed suppression.
Protesters are demanding the arrest of Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, whose complaint against Ojwang led to the blogger’s arrest and subsequent death in custody.
Lagat announced he had “stepped aside” on Monday, but activists dismissed the move as insufficient.
“Stepping aside isn’t justice. Lagat must be charged with murder,” said Hussein Khalid of VOCAL Africa.
Ojwang, a vocal government critic, was arrested on June 6 for allegedly defaming Lagat online.
Two days later, he was found dead in a Nairobi police cell. While authorities claimed he “collapsed,” an autopsy revealed blunt force trauma, neck compression, and torture injuries.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has named 17 officers as suspects in Ojwang’s death, with three already arrested, including the Central Police Station OCS.
The hawker’s killing has intensified public anger over extrajudicial executions in Kenya, particularly since last year’s mass GenZ protests against police brutality.
Demonstrators have vowed to continue marching until justice is served.
“We won’t be silenced by bullets,” said student activist Daniel Okoth. “If they think this will stop us, they’re wrong. We’ll be back.”
As tensions rise, calls for accountability grow louder, with many fearing further state crackdowns in the days ahead.
