Another police killing: 19-year-old bystander shot dead during protests in Mwiki

A cloud of grief and rage hangs over Mwiki after a 19-year-old man was shot dead on Friday, allegedly by a police officer during protests over the brutal rape and murder of 18-year-old Abigael Wina Wanjiku.

Joshua Steven, an ambitious young man with dreams of joining university, died as he fled from tear gas, only for a bullet to cut his life short. His family is shattered, and now, residents are demanding justice. 

The streets of Mwiki turned chaotic on Friday as residents protested Abigael’s rape and brutal murder inside her home on Thursday night.

But as darkness crept in, tragedy struck. Police moved in to disperse the crowds, lobbing tear gas, then gunshots rang out. Joshua, an innocent bystander, was caught in the chaos.

Amateur video captured the chilling moment a police officer raised a pistol, fired, then sped off on a motorcycle.

Joshua had been sheltering with a friend inside a small gas shop. But when police lobbed teargas into the shop, they ran for their lives, straight towards danger.

“Wakapigwa teargas mahali walikuwa wamejificha, wakatoroka," the deceased's mother Ann Wambui stated. 

That’s when a bullet struck Joshua in the head. He was rushed to hospital but died on the way.

“Ikaingia teargas, ikabidi atoroke. Kumbe alikimbilia upande wa polisi, ndio wakamshoot," Wambui noted. 

His death sparked fresh outrage. Angry residents returned to the streets, lighting bonfires, blocking roads, and demanding justice.

“Alishootiwa na polisi, na tuko na videos. Tumeamua tupiganie haki, hatujui nani ni next," John Mwangi, another resident, pointed out. 

At his family’s home in Mwiki, grief and disbelief. Their third-born son. Gone. A young life with big dreams, silenced.

Police are yet to issue an official statement. However, sources at Kasarani Police Station say investigations have narrowed to one officer reportedly armed with a pistol matching the one seen in the footage and wearing a similar police hat as the one captured shooting.

This comes just days after a street mask vendor was shot and injured by police officers along the streets of Nairobi during last week’s protests demanding justice for slain teacher Albert Ojwang, with cases of police brutality now alarmingly on the rise.