Police constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor who was shot during the anti-police brutality protests held in Nairobi on June 17. Barasa appeared at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, following a mental assessment that cleared him for trial.
What led to Barasa’s murder charge?
Barasa is accused of fatally shooting Kariuki at close range after the vendor was seen being manhandled by officers along Moi Avenue. The incident, caught on video, showed Barasa and fellow constable Duncan Kiprono confronting the unarmed hawker before shots were fired. The footage quickly went viral, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for accountability within Kenya’s law enforcement agencies.
Although both officers were interdicted, Kiprono was later released after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the murder charge against him. Barasa, however, faces a more serious legal battle.
What are prosecutors demanding?
Sarah Mwea, Assistant Director of Investigations at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), has recommended a death sentence if Barasa is found guilty. IPOA is also calling for a witness threat assessment, citing concerns for the safety of two vulnerable witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
What’s next in the case?
The court has directed the prosecution to file its bail application within seven days. The victim’s family will also have the same period to respond. Meanwhile, details surrounding Kariuki’s final moments remain troubling. Pathologists observed that “Kariuki’s brain may have ceased functioning before his death was officially announced,” more than a week after he was hospitalized with four bullet fragments in his skull.
As the case proceeds, it continues to draw national attention and intensify pressure on authorities to act decisively on issues surrounding extrajudicial killings and police conduct in Kenya.
By Yockshard Enyendi
