The United Kingdom’s High Commission in Kenya has strongly condemned police officers’ use of excessive force against protesters during Tuesday demonstrations in Nairobi.
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, the Commission expressed deep concern about the violent crackdown on demonstrators demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagatt in the aftermath of the controversial death of Albert Ojwang, a Voi-based teacher and blogger.
“We send our best wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured in yesterday’s violence,” the Commission’s spokesperson said, referring to Tuesday evening’s clashes in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
The High Commission emphasized that police officers must earn and retain the trust and confidence of the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect.
It also called for a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation into the police’s actions during the protests.
The diplomatic rebuke comes after a widely circulated video of a face mask vendor being brutally beaten and then shot at close range by a police officer on Moi Avenue. Bystanders were later seen carrying the injured man away, attempting to save his life.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the country, with citizens, civil rights organizations, and legal groups demanding accountability.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, condemned the incident as “unacceptable” and called for immediate action to address the escalating cases of police brutality.
