The National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga, has issued a stern warning to police officers nationwide regarding the reckless use of firearms during protests. Speaking on Radio Citizen on Monday, June 23, Nyaga emphasized that officers found using firearms inappropriately, especially during the upcoming protests slated for Wednesday, June 25, will face significant legal consequences.
Nyaga admitted that the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a mask hawker, during last week’s protests was “uncalled for.” He stated that the two officers involved in that incident will face the full force of the law, serving as a cautionary tale for others.
“The police have been educated on how to use a gun and also the laws that they should follow when using the weapons, and some of the things that we have been experiencing are not in line with what is in the law,” Nyaga explained. “Personally, when I was at my home and I saw the way that officer used the gun to shoot the hawker, I asked myself what was really happening. We have taken the two officers to court, and this will be a lesson to others who might use the gun in the wrong way.”
Strict Guidelines for Firearm Use
According to the spokesperson, police officers are bound by a strict set of laws governing when, where, and how they can use a firearm. In Kenya, the National Police Service Act, Section 61(2), authorizes officers to use firearms only in situations involving threats to life or serious injury, or to prevent escape during a felony.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) further clarifies that police officers are specifically prohibited from using firearms when dispersing an assembly. IPOA guidelines state:
“A police officer may use a firearm only when all other means have proven inadequate and only to save or protect the life of the officer or other persons and in self-defense or in defense of another person against imminent threat of life or serious injury.”
Details of Boniface Kariuki’s Shooting
Boniface Kariuki was shot in the head during protests on Tuesday, June 17, along Mondlane Street in Nairobi. This incident triggered widespread uproar among Kenyans, particularly on social media.
Kariuki is currently recovering at Kenyatta National Hospital. Reports indicate he was shot with a rubber bullet, causing damage to the upper part of his body, specifically his head. The two police officers implicated in the harassment and shooting of Kariuki have been identified as Masinde Baraza and Duncan Kiprono from Kileleshwa Police Station.
According to a statement from Kenyatta National Hospital on Wednesday, June 18, Kariuki was one of 16 patients received at the facility with gunshot and blunt force injuries from the protests.