NPS releases names of two officers arrested over shooting of hawker in Nairobi
Nyaga says the they have now been interdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action
The National Police Service (NPS) has released the names of two police officers arrested following the shooting of a face masks hawker Boniface Kariuki near Imenti House in Nairobi during yesterday’s protest over the death of teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang inside a cell at Central Police Station.
In a statement, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga identified the two as police constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono.
“The two officers have now been interdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action,” he said.
Nyaga also said that Kariuki is recuperating in stable condition at Kenyatta National Hospital after a successful surgery.
“The National Police Service (NPS) deeply regrets this unacceptable action and commiserates with the victim and his family, while reaffirming its full commitment to ensuring justice is served,” he added.
The update following earlier demands by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for the NPS to make full disclosure on the arrest of the officer who shot Kariuki.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo said the name and service number of the officer needed to be disclosed by the National Police Service for full accountability and prosecution.
According to the LSK president, the officer must be prosecuted as soon as possible, as she stated that the officer is a face of impunity and criminality.
“We demand that the officer’s name, identity, and service number be disclosed, and that he be prosecuted promptly. He must be treated as the face of Impunity and criminality within the Police Service, and his ultimate punishment must serve as a lasting deterrent for all officers who undermine and violate their constitutional duties,” Odhiambo stated.
The advocates affirmed that the statement by the police is ambiguous and does not provide any evidence that the officer was arrested.
“We shall not dance to the piper over a statement that is not only ambiguous but also fails to take responsibility for the criminal conduct of the officer in question. From the statement by the National Police Service, there is no evidence that the officer has been indicted for his heinous crime,” they said.
In a video showing the shooting of the victim who was selling face masks near Imenti House during the protest, the officers, one of them who seemed enraged shot him at close range in the head.
