Outrage in Kenya as Video Shows Police Officer Firing at Crowd During Protests.

By: Sharon Njeru.

Kenyans are expressing their outrage after a video surfaced showing a plainclothes police officer shooting at the public at close range in Nairobi’s Central Business District. The officer, seen wearing a black cap, blue shirt, and grey pants, is shown firing his weapon at a crowd that was calmly observing as his colleagues loaded arrested protesters into a van.
Originally posted on TikTok and widely shared across other online platforms, the video highlights the excessive force used by police during the anti-Finance Bill protests. In the footage, shared by Brian Robin, the officer and his colleagues had detained several protesters and were preparing to leave when the officer unexpectedly opened fire on the crowd.
The video has amassed over 200,000 views, with Kenyans demanding the officer’s arrest and calling on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate. Online, people have shared personal details of the officer, including his name, phone number, and wife’s name, sparking further outrage.

Comments on the incident reflect the public’s anger and frustration:
“It’s another day that IPOA has done nothing about the rogue cop. I am so mad at bureaucracy because we’ve all seen the videos, the evidence but he’s still roaming free. Imagine what he’s doing in private.”
“We demand hasty arrest and detainment of the rogue cop. His acts are direct portrayal of a crime against humanity.”
“What was the reason?? Zero provocation nothing. He was just like let me shoot one more to add on my list.”
The incident raises questions about the use of plainclothes officers who blend into crowds to apprehend protesters. According to Section 1 of the National Police Service Act 2011, officers must first use non-violent means and can only resort to lethal force when absolutely necessary for self-defense or to protect lives. The Act also requires officers to identify themselves and give clear warnings before using firearms, unless their own lives are in immediate danger.
Human rights groups have criticized the government for extra-judicial killings, citing over 20 deaths and numerous injuries during the protests. This contradicts President William Ruto’s statement, which claimed six people died and denied any extra-judicial killings since he took office.