Court approves 15-day detention of police officers in hawker shooting case
The two officers, attached to Kileleshwa Police Station, appeared before Milimani principal magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, where the court approved their detention after IPOA and the officers’ defense lawyers reached an agreement.
A Nairobi court has authorized the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to detain police officers Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono for 15 days while investigations continue into the assault and shooting of hawker Boniface Kariuki.
Kariuki was shot during protests on June 17 along Moi Avenue and is currently recovering in Kenyatta National Hospital’s intensive care unit.
The two officers, attached to Kileleshwa Police Station, appeared before Milimani principal magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, where the court approved their detention after IPOA and the officers’ defense lawyers reached an agreement.
Barasa and Kiprono were part of the police team deployed to manage protests sparked by the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
The shooting of Kariuki, who was hit at close range in the head, drew widespread public outrage and condemnation from civil rights groups and political leaders.
Protesters have been demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who is the main complainant in the case linked to Ojwang’s death.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordered the immediate arrest of Barasa and Kiprono as investigations into the incident proceed.
