Two police officers, Constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono, are currently being held in police custody for 15 days following their arraignment at the Milimani Law Courts. The detention, which began on Thursday, June 19, and will last until July 3, 2025, allows for extensive investigations into their alleged involvement in the shooting and assault of a face mask vendor during chaotic anti-government protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

The victim, identified as Boniface Kariuki (also known as Boniface Mwangi Kariuki), was caught on a now-viral video being assaulted and shot. The footage shows the officers encountering Kariuki near Imenti House along Mondlane Street. One officer is seen slapping Kariuki, who had his hands raised, before a scuffle ensues. After Kariuki falls to the ground, one officer, reportedly Kiprono, hits him with the butt of his gun. Seconds later, Constable Barasa is seen aiming his firearm and shooting the hawker in the head at point-blank range with a rubber bullet.

Kariuki sustained critical injuries and was immediately rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital by bystanders, where he underwent emergency surgery. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition, fighting for his life and is currently unable to speak. His family is urgently calling for the prosecution of Constable Barasa, who fired the near-fatal shot.

The officers were arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at the Nairobi Area Police Headquarters following widespread public outcry and demands for accountability. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) filed a miscellaneous application, initially seeking to detain the officers for 21 days to complete forensic investigations. However, a compromise was reached between the prosecution, led by Victor Owiti for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the defense, with Senior Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi ruling for a 15-day remand at Capitol Hill Police Station.

IPOA and DCI outlined the scope of their ongoing investigation, which includes ballistic testing of firearms recovered from the suspects, analysis of forensic samples from the scene, review of CCTV footage from the area where the shooting occurred, and interviews with key witnesses, including Kariuki once he is medically stable. The authorities are also awaiting a full medical report on the victim’s condition. IPOA argued that releasing the suspects prematurely could compromise the investigation by allowing for potential witness interference and evidence tampering, emphasizing the intense public interest in the case and the serious nature of the alleged offence of grievous harm, which also presents a flight risk for the suspects.

In a notable development, Felix Keaton, the vocal lawyer initially representing the police officers, withdrew from the case on Thursday, June 19. Keaton cited receiving over 1,000 threats and calls from online users, particularly “Gen Z,” stating his decision was to protect himself and his family. The officers have also been suspended from official duty pending the conclusion of their case. They are scheduled to appear in court again on July 3, 2025, if investigations are concluded within the stipulated timeframe.