Tensions Boil Over in Nairobi as Police Kill Unarmed Street Vendor Amid Protests

Nairobi, Kenya – The simmering fury on Nairobi’s streets has turned into searing heartbreak following the tragic killing of an unarmed street vendor by police on June 17—an incident that has further ignited outrage in a city already reeling from the controversial death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.

The vendor, whose only crime was trying to earn a living selling face masks, was shot near City Square in broad daylight. Captured on video by horrified bystanders, the footage shows the man collapsing as shots ring out—his lifeless body sprawled on the pavement, his merchandise scattered beside him.

What should have been a peaceful demonstration is fast becoming a national crisis. The video, now widely circulated on social media, has sparked intense condemnation, with citizens, civil society organizations, and human rights groups calling for urgent accountability.

“This is not law enforcement—it is state-sponsored brutality,” said one activist. “How many more must die before we address the violent tactics being used against innocent, unarmed citizens?”

The vendor’s death has poured fuel on the already blazing fire of public anger. What began as demonstrations for justice over Ojwang’s death has now escalated into a broader reckoning with the culture of impunity within Kenyan policing—a long-standing issue that critics say has been swept under the rug for far too long.

Human rights watchdogs are demanding an independent investigation into the incident, citing repeated patterns of excessive force and lethal policing in crowd control scenarios. Legal experts are also calling for the suspension of officers involved and the immediate release of bodycam footage and other evidence.

For many Kenyans, this latest killing is not just a tragedy—it is a symbol. A symbol of deep systemic failure. A symbol of a state that appears to value silence over justice. And a symbol of the urgent need for reform in how protests—and protestors—are handled.

As vigils are planned and outrage continues to grow, the call from Nairobi’s streets is clear: enough is enough.