Two police officers, Constables Klinzy Masinde Baraza and Duncan Kiprono, who are accused of shooting a hawker during Tuesday’s protests will be detained for 15 days as investigations continue.

In her ruling Thursday, Senior Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi granted the application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), allowing the officers to be held at Capitol Hill Police Station until July 3, 2025, to facilitate ongoing investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The DPP, had initially sought the suspects to be detained for 21 days, but the prosecution and defence agreed to a shorter period of 15 days.

“The court hereby allows the application by the prosecution; the respondents will be held for a period of 15 days to allow IPOA and DCI to complete investigations,” ruled Magistrate Ekhubi.

The officers are alleged to have assaulted and shot Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a mask vendor, along Mondlane Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District during the protests.

According to an affidavit filed in court, an officer attached to the Homicide Bureau at the DCI headquarters, the victim was critically injured and rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital by good Samaritans.

He later underwent brain surgery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The application for detention is grounded on that police seek to finalize multiple investigations including ballistic analysis of firearms confiscated from the officers.

The court heard that forensic analysis of samples collected at the scene will be done.

Owiti further stated that police are yet to retrieve and exame the CCTV footage from the area where the hawker was shot.

The officers were arrested on June 18, 2025, and booked at Capitol Hill Police Station following orders from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.