A Nairobi police officer who was caught on camera shooting an unarmed mask vendor at point-blank range during Tuesday’s anti-government protests has been arrested and is set to be arraigned in court, following widespread public outrage and disturbing viral footage of the incident.
In a rare and swift move, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordered the officer’s immediate arrest after the harrowing videos circulated online, sparking anger among Kenyans and renewed concerns about police brutality during public demonstrations.
“The said police officer has since been arrested,” confirmed Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga in a press statement released Wednesday morning. “He will face the full force of the law.”
Victim Not Part of Protest
The victim, identified as Eli Joshua, is a young street vendor who sells face masks outside Imenti House on Mondlane Street, well away from the main protest crowds.
Eyewitness footage, recorded on mobile phones by bystanders, shows the officer initially firing toward protesters on Moi Avenue. Moments later, he and a colleague walk in the opposite direction—where Eli stood quietly on the sidewalk, clutching his merchandise.
“Eli was not shouting. He wasn’t throwing anything. He was just standing there,” said a witness who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
In the video, the two officers confront Eli, begin beating him, and force him to the ground. Then—without provocation—the lead officer pulls out his firearm and shoots Eli in the head at close range.
Chaos and Delayed Medical Response
Bleeding heavily, Eli was rushed by fellow citizens to Bliss Medical Centre near Archives, where he received emergency first aid. According to witnesses, a Red Cross ambulance soon approached to evacuate him—but was forced to retreat when police fired tear gas into the crowd.
“They fired at us even as we were trying to save a life,” one protester told reporters.
Despite the confusion, the ambulance later returned and successfully transferred Eli to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
“The victim was taken to the hospital and is receiving medical attention,” said Nyaga.
National Outcry and First Arrest Since Protests Began
The incident, which occurred in broad daylight around 4:00 p.m., has been widely condemned by Kenyans, with the footage triggering calls for justice from both civic organizations and ordinary citizens across the country.
Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags demanding accountability, with many accusing the police of excessive force, indiscriminate violence, and targeting innocent civilians under the guise of crowd control.
This arrest marks the first public disciplinary action taken by police authorities since a wave of anti-government protests began erupting across major cities. The demonstrations, fueled by economic hardship and frustration over state governance, have frequently been met with heavy-handed responses from law enforcement.
Rights Groups Demand Accountability
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, have condemned the incident and demanded not just arrests—but prosecutions and structural reform.
“Shooting an unarmed vendor who posed no threat is not just a crime; it’s a betrayal of public trust,” said a joint statement released Wednesday. “We urge the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to pursue this case with transparency and urgency.”
Many have also renewed calls for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to fast-track investigations and publish findings related to all protest-related police violence since demonstrations began.
A Country at a Crossroads
This shooting, now seared into the national conscience, has once again brought into sharp focus the delicate balance between law enforcement and civil liberties in Kenya. While police are tasked with maintaining order, the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians continues to erode public confidence.
As Eli Joshua fights for his life in a Nairobi hospital, his story has become a rallying cry—a symbol of the larger struggle for justice, accountability, and the right of all Kenyans to live without fear of those sworn to protect them.
“Justice must not only be done,” said one protester, “it must be seen to be done.”
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