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Felix Keaton, a lawyer representing 2 police officers accused of shooting Boniface Kariuki during protests in Nairobi CBD on Tuesday, June 17, has withdrawn from the case.
In a statement on Thursday, June 19, Keaton revealed that he received over 1,000 messages and calls from Gen Zs regarding his representation of officers Klinzy Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, prompting him to recuse himself from the case.
“I have received over 1000 messages and calls from Gen Z because of representing a police suspect. As such, I hereby recuse myself from the conduct of the matter. Thank you,” Keaton stated.
On Wednesday, the lawyer received a backlash online after he argued that Barasa, who was caught on camera shooting at Kariuki, was a victim of mistaken identity.
“Our client was not the one who discharged that rubber bullet, so the person who has been arrested is a case of mistaken identity,” Keaton claimed.
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The 22-year-old hawker was shot at close range by a police officer in Nairobi’s CBD.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he underwent emergency surgery.
KNH CEO William Sigei on Wednesday stated that Kariuki was in a better condition than when he was admitted, but was still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
"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.
The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement publicly disclosed that Barasa and Kiprono were behind the shooting of the hawker.
NPS noted that the two officers have since been interdicted as investigations into the incident continue.
"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 two suspects are set to be arraigned before the Milimani law courts on Thursday.
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