Kenya: How police shooting of unarmed protester happened – DW – 06/18/2025
A shooting happened in one of Nairobi's busiest streets, outraging many Kenyans who have long witnessed officers abusing protesters and bystanders. Rights groups worry about increasing lawlessness in Kenya.
What happened?
In Nairobi's business district, small groups of protesters gathered on Tuesday, initially peacefully, to call for an end to police brutality. But according to media reports, they were quickly attacked by hundreds of men on motorbikes armed with makeshift weapons, known in Kenya as "goons."
Nairobi: Police, protesters clash in second week of unrest
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Police vehicles and officers appeared as vendors hastily packed up their stalls. One of the officers pointed his gun in the direction of protesters, then ran with a colleague to a vendor named Jonah Kariuki. The officers pushed the man.
As he is shoved and is moving away, Kariuki glances back. The officer raises his weapon and shoots 22-year-old Kariuki at close range in the head — who crumples to the sidewalk. After the shooting, the officer and his colleague walk away.
Police's reaction to the shooting
Police did not directly deny any cooperation with the armed goons, releasing a statement saying it "does not condone such unlawful groupings." Police also said the officer who shot Kariuki in the head "using an anti-riot shotgun" had been arrested. Activists called for the officer to be charged.
The judiciary in a statement on Wednesday said it was committed to "uphold justice" in all cases, including those involving alleged police brutality.
Nairobi: Pro-government counter-protesters clash with a protester during a protest over the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody Image: Thomas Mukoya/REUTERS
A wave of protests
Tensions were already high in the East African country as it marks a year since massive Gen Z-led protests over the economy. Kenyan government's latest Finance Bill avoided the tax hikes that sparked weeks of protests in mid-2024. Rights groups say over 60 people were killed and dozens more were illegally detained by security forces in the aftermath.
The protests peaked when thousands stormed parliament on June 25, 2024 when lawmakers debated the unpopular Finance Bill. The bill is now expected to take effect on July 1, 2025.
But demonstrations returned over the death of 31-year-old teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody earlier this month. Protesters want a senior officer they blame for the death to resign.
A protester scuffles with police during the recent protests in downtown Nairobi Image: Andrew Kasuku/AP Photo/picture alliance
History of state violence
Kenya has a history of politicians using armed mobs. Earlier this year, President William Ruto was accused of paying goons to follow his cavalcade around a tour of Nairobi to prevent protests.
Ruto adamantly denied paying any mobs after the tour was cut short amid widespread violence and robberies against bystanders.
Rights groups concerned
"We are turning into a lawless country," Ndungi Githuku, of civil rights group Kongamano La Mapinduzi, told AFP at Tuesday's protest. "We see hundreds of paid goons, with whips and weapons, crude weapons, coming to brutalize our people," he said.
Despite reforms to improve the relationship between police and citizens, human rights activists say police have not managed to transform their image as an authoritarian force to one that serves Kenyan citizens within a democracy.
The wave of protestes of young Kenyans in Nairobi's street against police brutality continues Image: Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images
Edited by: Cai Nebe
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
7 hours ago
- DW
Indonesia inks strategic partnership with Russia – DW – 06/19/2025
The leaders of Russia and Indonesia met in St Petersburg, where they lauded strong bilateral ties and Jakarta's new role in the BRICS grouping. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russia on Thursday following talks in St Petersburg with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The agreement comes as Indonesia enters the BRICS grouping as a full member, and Prabowo on Thursday thanked Putin for his support on Indonesia's BRICS bid. "Today we have met and our relationship is getting stronger again," Prabowo said in a statement. "My meeting with President Putin today was intense, warm and productive. In all fields of economics, technical cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, they all have experienced significant improvements," the statement said. Putin called Indonesia one of Russia's "key partners" in the Asia Pacific. "Our relations are mutually beneficial and are steadily developing on the basis of long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual assistance," he said. Another BRIC in the wall The BRICS grouping was conceived as a counter to Western-led forums like the G7, and has provided Putin with an avenue out of international diplomatic isolation over his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow's deepening of ties with Indonesia is seen as part of a bid to partner with more global south countries. During the meeting Thursday at St Petersburg's Constantine Palace, Putin said he was confident Indonesia would make a significant contribution to the BRICS grouping, whose other members include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Russia has also proposed deepening military, security, trade and nuclear ties with Indonesia. During the meeting, sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia and the Russian Direct Investment Fund agreed to create an investment fund worth $2.29 billion (€2 billion). Indonesia's non-alignment Indonesia's president maintains a non-aligned foreign policy, vowing to share close ties with any country, including Russia and the United States. Prabowo's government has already announced trade concessions to avert the threat of tariffs from US President Donald Trump. He also insists Indonesia will not join any military bloc, although it conducted joint naval exercises with Russia in the Java Sea last November. In 2023, it upgraded its relationship with the US to a comprehensive strategic partnership. And Prabowo's government has already announced trade concessions to avert the threat of tariffs from US President Donald Trump. What is BRICS and what does it want? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nevertheless, Jakarta's close ties with Russia have caused concern among Indonesia's Western allies. Prabowo skipped the G7 summit in Canada this week in favor of meeting Putin in Russia. His last visit to Russia was in August 2024, as Indonesian defense minister and president-elect. At the time he described Russia as a "great friend." Edited by: Zac Crellin
DW
10 hours ago
- DW
New Zealand pauses Cook Island aid over China deals – DW – 06/19/2025
China has been wooing Pacific Island countries with strategic partnership agreements. New Zealand has said it will pause funding to the Cook Islands until it can take a closer look at these deals. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Thursday said millions of dollars in funding for the Cook Islands would be suspended while his government examines the "breadth and content" of agreements with China. Luxon, who is visiting China for the first time this week, said the Cook Islands was not transparent about the scope of its strategic partnership with Beijing. "We've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues," he said in Shanghai. The funding pause amounts to a $11 million development assistance payment for the next financial year, according to government figures. New Zealand is the biggest provider of financial support for the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands' China deals The funding pause is part of larger friction between New Zealand, Australia and smaller Pacific island nations that China is approaching with partnership agreements as Beijing works on expanding its influence in the Pacific. In February, the Cook Islands surprised New Zealand by signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China on deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues. The agreement did not include security cooperation, but it did allow for more China-funded infrastructure projects. The Cook Islands was formerly part of the Colony of New Zealand. Today, it is self-governing and currently has a "free association" relationship New Zealand, sharing a military and passports. New Zealand also provides the Cook Islands with budgetary assistance, and advises on foreign affairs and defense. Cook Islanders can also freely work and live in New Zealand, which heightened security concerns after the agreement with China was signed. China's plan to dominate the seas To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday that "both New Zealand and the Cook Islands are important partners of China," adding that the strategic partnership agreement was not intended to antagonize New Zealand. "China-Cook Islands cooperation targets no third party, nor should it be interfered with or constrained by any third party," Beijing said. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said in February that the agreement with Beijing did not "replace our longstanding relationships with New Zealand, Australia and others, but rather complements them, ensuring that we have a diversified portfolio of partnerships." New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. New Zealand seeks more 'trust' The funds in question are part of a larger raft of $116 million (€101 million) in aid provided by New Zealand to the Cook Islands over the past three years under its free association agreement and earmarked for health, education and tourism sectors. A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday said the Cook Islands' agreements with China demonstrated a "a gap in understanding" between the governments "about what our special relationship of free association requires." "New Zealand has therefore paused these payments and will also not consider significant new funding" until the Cook Islands government "takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust," the spokesperson's statement said. Edited by: Zac Crellin
DW
13 hours ago
- DW
Europe rights chief flags Germany's Gaza protest response – DW – 06/19/2025
Skip next section Council of Europe raises concerns over Germany's handling of Gaza protests 06/19/2025 June 19, 2025 Council of Europe raises concerns over Germany's handling of Gaza protests The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty expressed concern to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt about freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in Germany over protests related to the war in Gaza. In a letter dated June 6 but made public Thursday , he cited reports of police using excessive force against demonstrators, including minors. "The use of force by law enforcement officials including during protests must comply with the principles of non-discrimination, legality, necessity and proportionality, and precaution," he wrote. O'Flaherty also noted that restrictions on events, symbols, or other forms of expression in this context. He said governments have very limited grounds to restrict political speech or public debate, unless it incites violence, and must assess each case individually. The human rights commissioner also pointed to reports that Germany justified some restrictions on rights as part of an effort to prevention of antisemitism. "I note with concern reports indicating that the working definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has been interpreted by some German authorities in ways which lead to the blanket classification of criticism of Israel as antisemitic," he said. "In that regard, I urge you to be vigilant that the IHRA working definition is not distorted, instrumentalised or misapplied to stifle freedom of expression and legitimate criticism, including of the state of Israel." DW has requested comment from Dobrindt and will update this story if a response is received. The Council of Europe is a Strasbourg-based international human rights organization that protects human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is not a part of the European Union. Silent protest: Dancing for Iran To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
