The police officer who was caught on camera fatally shooting 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki Mwangi, a street vendor, will now be charged with murder, a Nairobi court has ruled.
Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa, who was attached to Kayole Police Station, appeared before High Court Judge Kanyi Kimondo on Wednesday. The judge directed that Masinde undergo a mandatory mental assessment at either Kenyatta National Hospital or Mbagathi Hospital to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
The tragic incident occurred on June 17, 2025, outside Imenti House in Nairobi’s Central Business District during anti-government protests. Kariuki, a mask vendor, was reportedly attempting to sell face masks to demonstrators amid heavy tear gas when the confrontation unfolded.
In disturbing footage that went viral online, Masinde and his colleague, Constable Duncan Kiprono, are seen confronting Kariuki. Kiprono is captured assaulting the vendor, while Masinde is later seen firing a close-range shot to Kariuki’s head as he walked away.
Kariuki died on the spot from severe head injuries, and an autopsy later revealed four bullet fragments lodged in his brain.
Initially, both officers had been charged with grievous harm, but public outcry and mounting evidence pushed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to upgrade the charge to murder.
On Wednesday, only Masinde appeared alone in the dock as the primary suspect in the shooting. Kiprono may still face assault charges, pending further investigations.
The death of Kariuki sparked outrage across the country, with human rights groups and the public demanding justice and police reforms.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched an investigation, and Masinde was interdicted from service shortly after the video emerged.
What’s Next?
Masinde will return to court after his mental evaluation, at which point he is expected to take a plea to the murder charge. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment or death under Kenyan law.
