Kenya Faces Growing Outcry Amid Allegations of Police Brutality and Custodial Deaths

NAIROBI, Kenya – Recent incidents in Kenya have brought renewed scrutiny to allegations of police brutality and impunity, sparking widespread public outrage and calls for justice. The capital, Nairobi, was the scene of a tragic shooting where Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old street vendor, was reportedly shot in the head by police at point-blank range during a protest. Kariuki, who was not participating in the demonstration, miraculously survived the bullet wound, though a CT scan revealed severe brain damage. This incident occurred amidst a protest demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher who died in police custody earlier this month. Ojwang had been arrested on charges of insulting a police boss on social media. Police initially claimed his death was a suicide, stating he sustained head injuries from hitting his head against a cell wall. However, an independent autopsy report contradicted this, revealing that Ojwang had been brutally beaten, sustaining injuries including a badly injured head, pressed neck, broken bones in the head, bleeding inside the brain, and bruises on his jaw, with blood found in his spine. Human rights organizations and activists assert that these cases are not isolated, highlighting a concerning pattern of police abductions, false accusations, imprisonment, and killings across Kenya. A security report from The EastAfrican indicates a 44% increase in abductions and kidnappings by police. These systemic issues have fueled growing public discontent, leading to calls for a nationwide 'Maandamano for Our Lives' protest scheduled for June 25th, described by organizers as 'the mother of all protests,' demanding an end to corruption and police excesses.