Kenyan Court Grants 15 Days to Complete Probe into Police Shooting During Protests Over Blogger’s Death in Custody

Kenya police officers Duncan Kiprono, left, and Baraza Masinde, right, accused of assaulting and shooting hawker Boniface Mwangi Kariuki during a protest, appear at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, June 19, 2025

A Kenyan court on Thursday granted detectives 15 days to complete their investigation into two police officers accused of shooting and injuring a hawker during street protests sparked by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.

The two officers were arraigned just 48 hours after Tuesday’s high-profile shooting incident, which occurred in broad daylight on a busy street in Nairobi and was captured by multiple cameras. The violent scene triggered public outrage and reignited long-standing grievances over police brutality in Kenya.

The protests were held in response to the suspicious death of Ojwang, who was detained on June 6 in western Kenya. He was accused of disseminating “false information” about a senior police official on social media. Authorities claimed Ojwang died after allegedly “hitting his head against the cell wall,” but human rights activists and the public have questioned this explanation and called for accountability.

Kenyan police officer Baraza Masinde, accused of assaulting and shooting hawker Boniface Mwangi Kariuki during a protest, appears at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators demanded the arrest of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat, who had filed the defamation complaint against Ojwang. On Monday, Langat announced he was stepping aside from his role and pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.

The two officers, both based at Central Police Station in Nairobi, were taken into custody last week. They will remain in remand until July 3. During their court appearance, both officers concealed their identities by wearing masks, prompting criticism from civil society groups who decried the lack of transparency.

Kenya has long struggled with issues of police misconduct, including brutality and extrajudicial killings. President William Ruto had previously pledged to end such abuses and reform the police force, but recent incidents have renewed skepticism about the government’s commitment.

In 2023, multiple activists and protesters were reportedly abducted or killed by security forces during demonstrations opposing new tax hikes. Those events fueled a nationwide outcry and led to widespread demands for President Ruto’s resignation.

As the investigation into Ojwang’s death and the shooting of the hawker continues, public scrutiny remains high, with growing pressure on authorities to deliver justice and uphold human righ