Photographs show the moment an unarmed Kenyan man was shot in the head at point-blank range during a rally against police brutality.
Two police officers confront the apparent bystander, who is subsequently shot with a shotgun as he walks away, falling to the ground and bleeding badly from his head.
The images from the Associated Press have fueled outrage against William Ruto’s regime and a culture of violence and impunity among police officers.
Protesters in Nairobi demanded accountability for the death in prison of a Kenyan blogger accused of defaming a senior police officer, and were attacked by a mob of masked bikers with whips and clubs.
The protest demanded the arrest of Eliud Langat, the deputy inspector general of police, who had filed a defamation suit against Albert Ojwang before the latter was imprisoned and died in custody.
Mr Langat has not admitted that he was the complainant against Mr Ojwang, but his boss, Inspector General Douglas Kanja, has previously stated that inquiries into Mr Ojwang’s online activity began after Mr Langat lodged a formal complaint.
Earlier this week, Mr Langat stood down “in view of the ongoing investigations” into the blogger’s murder.
He pledged: “I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident.”
Officials first stated that Mr Ojwang died of self-inflicted injuries, but a post-mortem revealed significant injuries to his head and torso, which appeared to be the result of an assault.
Mr Ojwang’s killing has become a lightning rod for popular displeasure with Mr Ruto’s government, one year after more than 60 people were killed in protests sparked by proposed tax increases.
Witnesses stated the man who was shot in the head during the rally seemed to be a street vendor selling face masks, not a protester.
According to hospital officials, he survived the shooting and is currently having surgery. The event resulted in the arrest of an anonymous police officer.
The Kenyan government were also accused of employing armed “goons” to beat and intimidate protesters while police stood by.
Hooded motorcycle riders armed with whips were seen hitting demonstrators on the streets.
Hanifa Adan, a senior protester, told AFP that “the goons attacked us. They trapped us and whipped us with whips while the police watched.”
One man armed with a club told reporters that he was hired by the Nairobi governor’s office for roughly £6. He further stated that he “just wanted the money”.
“They informed us that we were coming to safeguard the shops. “I had no idea it would turn out like this,” he remarked.
Mr Ruto was elected in 2022 on a wave of support fueled by the promise of transformation and job opportunities for the young.
However, his reputation as a reformer has been tarnished by a protracted economic downturn and a crackdown on last year’s protests, which saw dozens slain and dozens more disappear into police custody and torture.
