The National Police Service (NPS) has publicly disclosed the identities of the two police officers arrested in connection with the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a hawker in Nairobi’s CBD.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, the NPS confirmed the officers’ names as Police Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde (No. 119413) and Police Constable Duncan Kiprono (No. 117193).
"The two officers have now been interdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action," the NPS stated.
The NPS extended sympathy to the family of the victim and assured the public of its commitment to accountability.
"The National Police Service (NPS) deeply regrets this unjustified act and commiserates with the victim and his family, while reaffirming its full commitment to ensuring justice is served," the statement further read.
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Earlier, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had demanded that NPS make public the name of the officer who shot the mask vendor.
In a statement, LSK noted that the service had not identified the cop in their earlier statement, further challenging the police to demonstrate that disciplinary action had been taken against the officer.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo explained that the demands were necessary as action against the cop would be a deterrent to other officers.
"We shall not dance to the piper over a statement that is not only ambiguous but also fails to take responsibility for the criminal conduct of the officer in question. From the Statement by the National Police Service, there is no evidence that the officer has been indicted for his heinous crime.
"We demand that the officer's name, identity, and service number be disclosed, and that he be prosecuted promptly. He must be treated as the face of Impunity and criminality within the Police Service, and his ultimate punishment must serve as a lasting deterrent for all officers who undermine and violate their constitutional duties," the statement read in part.
Following the shooting, Kariuki was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he underwent an emergency surgery.
Speaking to the press, KNH CEO William Sigilai stated that Kariuki was in a better condition than when he was admitted.
However, Sigilai noted that he had not yet woken up and was still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
"The CT scan of the head confirmed that a bullet had struck the left side of his head. The patient was then prepared for emergency surgery to mitigate his condition.
"The patient was wheeled into theatre where a complex and delicate surgery was conducted by a multidisciplinary team under the leadership of our neurosurgeon. The procedure lasted 2 hours. During the procedure, an object believed to be a bullet was removed," he said.
