Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has condemned President William Ruto following the shooting of an unarmed hawker by police during peaceful protests in Nairobi.
The demonstrations, held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, were in response to the controversial death of Albert Ojwang, a young man who died in police custody.
In a hard-hitting statement shared on his X account, Gachagua described the day as one of the darkest in Kenya’s post-independence history. He accused the Ruto-led government of plunging the country into shame through reckless and violent crackdowns on innocent civilians.
He said the hawker, who was peacefully selling face masks in the Central Business District, was brutally shot at close range despite posing no threat. Gachagua questioned the logic and training behind such police behaviour, especially in the wake of Ojwang’s death, which had already sparked national outrage.
“Today, we have witnessed one of the lowest moments of our post-independence, Kenya. It is uncivilised to sink our nation into an international shame by a clueless regime that has no value and dignity for human life,” the former DP stated.
“Young people and patriotic Kenyans expressing themselves on the death of an innocent Albert Ojwang have been beaten up, their property destroyed, and lives lost in the peaceful protests.”
Gachagua said the incident was not a coincidence, but part of a deliberate plan by state actors. He claimed he had earlier warned that his former boss, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, and other senior officials were planning to unleash police brutality and armed goons disguised as civilians to suppress protests.
“I had clearly warned of a plan by the President and the Governor of Nairobi County and other state machinery of their plans to unleash police brutality and thugs in police escort to kill our young people today. This has come to pass. What is this obsession with the regime with the blood of young people? Why do you continue to paint our country with innocent blood?” Gachagua said.
He accused the regime of having a disturbing obsession with the blood of young people and asked why the government continued to use violence as a response to peaceful dissent.
He also challenged the authorities to show who among the violent actors had been arrested for the day’s chaos, expressing doubt that any justice would be served.
Gachagua also dismissed President Ruto’s recent demands for an apology from Gen Z and Albert Ojwang’s father, saying the government should instead be asking for forgiveness from the Kenyan people. He urged the President to stop the violence and start listening to the voices of Kenyans, especially the youth.
He warned that the blood of innocent Kenyans would not be ignored and called for accountability at the highest level.
Police shoot hawker
The shooting of the hawker during the protests has intensified public outrage and renewed calls for police reform. Calls for justice continue to grow as more videos from the protests surface, showing excessive use of force by law enforcement officers.
According to video evidence and eyewitness accounts, the hawker was cornered by two officers who began physically assaulting him. As he tried to back away, one of the officers cocked his gun and fired, killing him instantly. The shooting happened in broad daylight along Moi Avenue and was captured on video, prompting widespread anger online.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has also come out to condemn the shooting, calling it horrifying and inexcusable. He urged President Ruto to act swiftly and stop the growing culture of police violence before it pushes the country into deeper unrest.
“I strongly condemn the killing of an unarmed hawker selling masks in Nairobi’s Central Business District today. The viral video circulating on social media is horrifying to watch. Our police officers have completely gone rogue. There was no imminent threat posed to the officer, yet he chose to use excessive and lethal force against an innocent civilian,” Raila stated.
“Kenyans have a constitutional right to protest peacefully, and I call upon the President to urgently address this escalating situation before it spirals out of control. The continued use of violence by law enforcement against unarmed citizens is unacceptable and must be met with immediate accountability,” he added.
