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Court Grants IPOA 15 Days to Detain Officers Accused in Hawker Shooting Case
A Nairobi court has granted the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) permission to detain two police officers for 15 days as investigations into the shooting of a street hawker continue.
Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, both attached to Kileleshwa Police Station, were arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The two officers are accused of shooting Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a hawker selling face masks, during anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District on June 17.
Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi approved the detention following a mutual agreement between IPOA and the officers’ defence lawyers.
According to IPOA, the shooting occurred along Moi Avenue amid demonstrations triggered by the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody. The protests, which have drawn national attention, have also seen calls for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who is the main complainant in Ojwang’s controversial death.
Kariuki, the shooting victim, was allegedly shot at close range in the head by one of the officers. He was immediately rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
The brutal incident has sparked public outrage and condemnation from civil rights organizations, religious leaders, and several lawmakers. In response, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordered the immediate arrest of Barasa and Kiprono.
The court ruling gives IPOA critical time to gather evidence and build a case, while Kenyans await justice for both Kariuki and Ojwang. The case has intensified scrutiny of police conduct, especially during crowd control operations.
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Court Grants IPOA 15 Days to Detain Officers Accused in Hawker Shooting Case