Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has strongly condemned the police shooting of hawker Boniface Kariuki, who remains hospitalised in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital following Tuesday’s protest in the city.
Kariuki was shot during demonstrations held in Nairobi to demand justice for teacher Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody. His shooting has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.
In a statement on Wednesday, Governor Sakaja described the incident as “deeply troubling and unacceptable,” warning that such actions undermine the values of a democratic society.
“Law enforcement must operate with professionalism, restraint, and respect for human rights,” Sakaja stated. “This tragic incident must not be swept under the rug. Justice must be done — and seen to be done.”
He called for a thorough and independent investigation into the shooting and insisted that the officer responsible must be held fully accountable.
At the same time, the Governor denounced the wave of violence and destruction that has accompanied the protests in recent days. He acknowledged the constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations but maintained that vandalism, looting, and the destruction of property would not be tolerated.
“What we’ve witnessed in Nairobi in recent days is heartbreaking — livelihoods destroyed, businesses forced to close, and public infrastructure damaged. These are criminal actions, not civil disobedience,” he said.
Sakaja warned young people against being misled by political actors or criminal groups taking advantage of public anger to fuel chaos.
“The right to protest does not override the rights of others to safety, work, and freedom of movement,” he said. “We will not allow criminal elements to hijack our democratic space.”
He called on the National Police Service to act firmly but fairly — ensuring that both the officer involved in Kariuki’s shooting and those responsible for the destruction of property face justice.
“We must not create a society where citizens take the law into their own hands because they feel institutions are failing them,” Sakaja warned.
He further urged Kenyans to channel their grievances through established democratic institutions such as Parliament and the Judiciary, emphasizing that violence is not the solution
