Here is what you need to know to keep up to speed with today’s happenings.

Mask vendors shooting

Conversations and public outrage over the shooting of a mask vendor in Nairobi’s CBD are expected to intensify today.

On June 17, 2025, the incident unfolded along Moi Avenue during protests demanding justice for slain blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.

The unarmed mask vendor was shot in the head at close range by a Kenyan police officer. The shooting was captured on video, showing the officer masked despite a High Court ban and a colleague assaulting him moments before the fatal shot.

The graphic footage quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking nationwide anger and renewed calls for police accountability. Many Kenyans described the shooting as an attempted cold-blooded murder carried out in broad daylight.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja later confirmed the officer involved had been arrested.

The mask vendor, who survived the initial shooting, was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth visited him and announced that an ICU bed had been secured, ready for immediate admission once he was out of surgery.

Probe into Ojwang’s death

Protests and investigations into the death of Ojwang are expected to intensify, with the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) now slated to be questioned by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Although the exact date for the interrogation is yet to be confirmed, IPOA has indicated that the DIG will be required to appear as part of their ongoing probe.

In a major development, IPOA has made significant progress in the investigation into the murder of blogger and teacher Ojwang, who died in custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station on June 8, 2025.

Preliminary findings reveal that Ojwang was brutally assaulted while in custody. An autopsy confirmed severe head injuries, neck compression, and multiple soft tissue injuries—findings that directly contradict earlier police claims suggesting self-inflicted harm.

Developments so far

Chief Inspector Samson Talam (OCS), Constable James Mukhwana (cell sentry), and a technician accused of tampering with CCTV footage have been arrested.

Three civilians, said to have been used by police to assault Ojwang while in custody, have also been taken into custody.