Police plunge Ruto deeper into public crisis

A face mask vendor was shot in broad daylight by a police officer during a chaotic day of protests in Nairobi’s central business district on Tuesday, triggering fresh outrage over police brutality.

Police in the evening said the victim, identified as Boniface Kariuki, suffered serious injuries and passed on at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

Footage from the incident shows two police officers, armed with guns and batons, approach the unarmed vendor who had sought shelter on the verandah of a shop at Imenti House on Moi Avenue.

Without provocation, they kick and shove the man to the ground. One officer then raises his rifle, aims and fires a single bullet into the vendor’s head at point-blank range.

The officers then walk away, seemingly unbothered, as horrified onlookers record the scene.

In one of the videos circulating online, a voice can be heard shouting: “He has shot him in the head!”

The vendor, who has not yet been formally identified, was not involved in the protests. He is believed to have been going about his usual business of selling face masks when he was killed.

 The shooting will plunge President William Ruto into a deeper public crisis amid outrage against his government. 

The incident took place as parts of Nairobi descended into mayhem. Demonstrations had been called across major towns—including Mombasa, Kilifi, and Nairobi—to protest the killing of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’, who died in police custody on June 8 after being arrested in his Homa Bay home the day before. A postmortem confirmed signs of torture and strangulation.

Ruto has been trying to contain the public anger and has called for police accountability. He also spoke to Ojwang's father and offered state support.

Amid the protest, groups of masked, motorcycle-riding assailants—some armed with batons, clubs, and stones—unleashed violence on demonstrators and passersby. In one particularly brutal video, a young man is seen being punched, kicked, and hit with rocks and batons by multiple attackers. One is captured leaping into the air and stomping on the victim’s head with both feet in a disturbing wrestling-style assault.

The gangs in balaclavas, heavy jackets and sometimes police-style boots appeared well coordinated. Witnesses claimed they rampaged through the city under the passive watch of uniformed police officers who made no attempt to intervene.

Shops and offices in the CBD closed early, some as soon as 11am, as business owners feared a repeat of the looting that occurred during previous protests. Public service vehicles avoided the City Centre and by midday, Nairobi's usually vibrant streets had turned desolate.

Hussein Khalid, a leading activist from Vocal Africa, was among those attacked by the gangs. “Just been accosted by goons on Kenyatta Avenue who roughed me up kiasi (a bit) before I escaped,” he posted online. “After I escaped, I managed to take a video of them walking toward GPO.” 

Reports indicate that some of the gangs robbed protesters and journalists. Police responded by firing tear gas—not at the violent groups—but at the peaceful demonstrators.

At least two motorcycles used by the gangs were later set ablaze by protesters along Koinange Street after some riders were accused of participating in assaults and robberies. Following this, more attackers emerged armed with clubs and began indiscriminately assaulting pedestrians.

Clashes erupted along Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, and several other roads. With no visible effort from police to control the violence, many Nairobi residents accused security forces of allowing the gangs to operate with impunity.

Among the properties targeted in the chaos was a clothing store at Imenti House, which was looted as the crowds scattered in panic. 

The protests had been intended as a peaceful march to the Central police station, where Ojwang’ died. But as demonstrators approached the University Way intersection, the gangs on motorcycles swarmed in, attacking them and taking control of the streets.

Police vehicles and officers were seen standing by as the violence unfolded, with protesters chased, whipped, and dispersed with tear gas.

The turmoil occurred just a day after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside to allow investigations into Ojwang’s death. Lagat had earlier filed a defamation complaint that allegedly led to Ojwang’s arrest. In a statement, he said: “In view of the ongoing investigations on the unfortunate incident of the death of Mr. Albert Ojwang, I have today opted to step aside from the office... I offer immense condolences to the family for their great loss.”

Lagat’s decision followed a meeting with President William Ruto amid public pressure for his resignation. 

Inspector General Douglas Kanja told the Senate on June 11 that investigations into Lagat’s conduct began on June 4, following online allegations of corruption within the National Police Service. Lagat had filed a formal complaint against Ojwang, which allegedly set off the events leading to his arrest and death.

So far, at least four police officers and four civilians have been arrested in connection with Ojwang’s killing, which took place inside police cells. 

With the streets of Nairobi now quiet but tense, many are left grappling with the question: how did a peaceful call for justice descend into such horror, and who will be held accountable?