Tuesday's shooting at close range of an unarmed street vendor by police during protests in Nairobi continues to draw outrage from Kenyans even as doctors confirmed the victim "is alive and under close, round-the-clock observation" in the ICU.
Boniface Kariuki was shot in the head at close range as anti-riot police dispersed a group of goons near Imenti House on Moi Avenue.
He was carried away by protesters to a city clinic before being referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
In an update on Wednesday, KNH CEO William Sigilai said Kariuki underwent a two-hour emergency surgery and a bullet was removed from the left side of his head.
"The patient thereafter was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he is being cared for by our dedicated medical team," he said.
Content creator, actress and radio personality Azziad Nasenya said it is ironic that a Kenyan was shot by police, almost fatally, during protests called to condemn police brutality after blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang' died while in custody.
The shooting was caught on camera by stunned protesters.
"I watched that video in utter disbelief. I kept rewinding it, you shot this guy who was trying to run away, who was not even fighting, who was not even armed—in broad daylight without even shame?"
Azziad bemoaned what she described as a system that sees citizen voices as a threat and treats protests as crimes and views lives of protesters as expendable.
She said despite the apparent intimidation, Kenyans will not be cowed into silence "by a police force that is meant to protect us".
"You may try to silence us - with fear, force or bullets—but we will not watch our country rot from the inside. We are not here to destroy Kenya. We are here because we love it."
In a video message posted on her official Instagram page, the social media influencer said no matter what it takes, "justice will rise because this is diabolical".
"I don't even have the right words to explain that. Today just feels like a sunrise over a wounded country and the people are crying and are not being served justice."
Kariuki's shooting sparked public outrage, more so after videos emerged online showing baton-wielding goons mug pedestrians and engage in wanton destruction of property as police watched, unfazed.
Police released a statement saying investigations were underway to identify the individuals and vowed to firmly handle the culprits in accordance with the law.
"The said police officer (who shot the vendor) has since been arrested," Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.
