A series of graphic photos published by The Associated Press has reignited national fury in Kenya, after capturing the harrowing moment a police officer shot a civilian in the head at close range during protests in Nairobi on Tuesday. The victim, 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki, was reportedly not even part of the demonstration.
Kariuki, a street vendor, was seen holding a packet of face masks before collapsing to the ground, a vivid and disturbing symbol of police violence that has plagued Kenya for decades.
The images, taken on one of Nairobi’s busiest streets, show a masked officer discharging his weapon toward protesters, then turning toward Kariuki. What followed unfolded in full view of journalists: a sequence of aggression, confusion, and ultimately, gunfire.
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The AP indicated that they published the photos despite their graphic nature because they show evidence of a police shooting of a civilian.
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The officer and a colleague, both armed, are seen jumping from a vehicle. Though the protesters remain outside the photo frame, the officer is captured firing into the distance. Moments later, the two officers confront Kariuki. It’s unclear why, or whether he was mistaken for a protester, but with hands raised, he backs away.
“The officers push at the man, who raises his hands toward his face.
“As he is shoved and moves away, the man glances back. The officer raises his weapon and shoots at him. The man crumples to the sidewalk,” the outlet narrated.
After the shot, the officers walk away. The entire incident was documented, frame by frame, an unusual moment of transparency in a country where many victims of police shootings are unseen and unheard.
Boniface Kariuki survived the shooting and was rushed to a Nairobi hospital along with others wounded during the protest. His condition was critical, but a hospital spokesperson confirmed he underwent surgery.
“A senior health ministry official, Patrick Amoth, told local media later Tuesday that the man was in surgery, with a bed on standby in intensive care.”
The protest itself was sparked by the death of a blogger, Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody earlier this month after being accused of defaming a senior officer. Tensions had been simmering, and Tuesday’s protest brought that frustration back to the streets where police brutality has historically found impunity.
READ ALSO: Kenyan police under fire after shooting unarmed man during protest
Public anger intensified when the photographs emerged. Headlines screamed “Killer police,” and the outrage reached a new pitch when the unnamed officer was arrested, a rare move, but one critics say still falls short.
“Later Tuesday, as questions grew about the shooting — ‘Killer police,’ one Nairobi headline read — police expressed concern. In a statement, they said the officer had been arrested.”
In the quiet of Nairobi’s neighborhoods, Kariuki’s family is demanding justice. His father, mother, and community members have joined activists in calling for full accountability, not just arrest.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who had vowed to tackle police abuse upon taking office, has yet to comment. With the next anti-brutality protest scheduled for June 24, many are bracing for more confrontation.
For years, watchdog groups have chronicled a pattern of extrajudicial killings in Kenya, often targeting protesters or government critics. Despite promises from multiple administrations, real accountability remains elusive.
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