The unarmed face mask vendor who was shot at close range by a rogue anti-riot police officer during Tuesday’s peaceful protests in Nairobi is alive and currently receiving emergency treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he is reportedly in critical but stable condition.
In a statement released by the National Police Service (NPS), the police confirmed the incident and revealed that the officer responsible had been arrested and will be arraigned in court. “The Inspector-General National Police Service ordered for the immediate arrest and arraignment in court of the involved officer. The said police officer has since been arrested,” the statement read.
The NPS expressed “great concern” over the viral footage showing the officer discharging an anti-riot shotgun at the unarmed vendor in Nairobi’s CBD. The incident took place during a peaceful demonstration organized by human rights defenders demanding justice for slain blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang.
Channel 15 News has obtained exclusive images and footage of the victim inside KNH, where he is being stabilized by medical personnel. Sources at the hospital confirm that the vendor sustained life-threatening injuries, but doctors are working around the clock to save his life.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo revealed on Tuesday that the victim is a native of Homa Bay County, describing him as a hardworking young man simply trying to earn a living.
The National Police Service, while condemning the officer’s conduct, also raised concerns over what it described as “a group of goons armed with crude weapons” who allegedly infiltrated the demonstrations. Investigations into the identities of those individuals are said to be underway.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on the police service, with lawmakers and civil rights groups calling for comprehensive reforms and justice for victims of excessive force.
