A man was shot dead by anti-riot police officers on Tuesday, June 17, along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s Central Business District during ongoing protests demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat.
The victim, reported to be a hawker selling face masks, was cornered by two police officers who began assaulting him before one of them fired a fatal shot at point-blank range. The harrowing incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread outrage and condemnation from the public.
In the footage, the officers can be seen raining blows on the unarmed man, who appeared not to pose any threat, before he was gunned down in broad daylight as onlookers screamed in shock.
Moments after the shooting, several good Samaritans rushed to the scene and were seen carrying the injured man in a desperate attempt to save his life. However, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The protests, which have rocked Nairobi for over a week, were sparked by the controversial death of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. Demonstrators have since escalated their demands, calling for accountability and the immediate resignation of DIG Lagat, whom they accuse of overseeing a brutal police response.
Human rights organizations and civil society groups have condemned the shooting, demanding swift investigations and the prosecution of the officers involved.
The National Police Service had not issued an official statement on the incident
