Kenyan Police Officer Arrested After Shooting Unarmed Street Vendor in the Head

Edited by: Widad WAHBI

A Kenyan police officer has been arrested following the shooting of an unarmed civilian in broad daylight on Tuesday, during protests denouncing rampant police brutality and extrajudicial killings.

The incident occurred on a major street in Nairobi, in full view of journalists, reigniting public outrage over a pattern of violence by law enforcement against civilians.

Striking images captured by an Associated Press photographer show the moments before the shooting: two armed officers rush toward a man — later identified as 22-year-old street vendor Boniface Kariuki — and one of them, without clear provocation, fires a shot at close range, striking him in the head.

Kariuki collapsed, bleeding profusely, still clutching a packet of face masks he was selling. The officers are seen calmly walking away from the scene.

Miraculously, the young man survived. After undergoing emergency surgery, he remains in intensive care. His father, Jonah Kariuki, said the bullet pierced his son’s skull just above the ear but that the operation was “successful.” He called for full accountability, insisting that “the officer responsible must face justice.”

Kenya’s police have long faced criticism for their heavy-handed tactics and use of lethal force, especially during protests. Tuesday’s demonstrations in Nairobi and Mombasa were sparked by the recent death in police custody of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who had allegedly defamed a senior officer.

While President William Ruto has repeatedly pledged to curb police violence, he has yet to respond to the latest incident. Meanwhile, civil society groups have announced a new wave of protests scheduled for 24 June.

The arrest of the officer marks a rare act of accountability — but for many Kenyans, it remains a stark reminder of the deep-rooted culture of impunity within the police force.