Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has broken his silence on the disturbing police shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a face mask vendor who was critically injured during Tuesday’s protests in the city.
Kariuki was shot at close range along Moi Avenue by anti-riot police officers during demonstrations demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a teacher and online influencer who allegedly died in police custody. A widely shared video showed two officers in riot gear confronting Kariuki before one of them beat and shot him.
Through a statement on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Governor Sakaja described the incident as deeply troubling and called for immediate action.
“The tragic shooting of Boniface Kariuki by a police officer is unacceptable in a democratic society. I urge the relevant authorities to carry out a thorough, independent investigation and ensure that the officer responsible is held fully accountable,” Sakaja said.
He emphasized that law enforcement must always act within the law, showing restraint, professionalism, and full respect for human rights.
Sakaja also called for calm and meaningful dialogue involving all stakeholders, including national leaders, civil society, security agencies, and the public.
“We need a national conversation about peace, justice, and unity. While the Constitution protects the right to protest, I am disturbed by recent scenes of vandalism, looting, and destruction in Nairobi. Businesses built over many years have been vandalized, and taxpayer-funded infrastructure destroyed,” he noted.
The Governor appealed to young people not to allow themselves to be misused by those exploiting peaceful protests for criminal activities. He warned that Nairobi has already suffered losses running into billions of shillings, with businesses shut down, jobs disrupted, and livelihoods destroyed.
“These criminal acts are punishable by law and must be condemned by every peace-loving citizen,” Sakaja said.
He urged the National Police Service to act “with firmness and fairness” by arresting and prosecuting those behind acts of violence, looting, and vandalism.
“It is vital to deliver justice to those affected and to stop further chaos that could lead citizens to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
Sakaja also condemned those who hijack protests for personal or political gain.
“We will not allow criminal elements to hijack our democratic space. While we affirm the right to peaceful protest, we strongly condemn the destruction of property witnessed last week, carried out by hired goons brought in from outside Nairobi. We dissociate from any gangs or politically sponsored groups taking advantage of demonstrations to commit crimes.”
He encouraged Kenyans to use legal and democratic institutions such as Parliament and the Judiciary to express their concerns instead of resorting to violence.
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