Officer Klinzy Masinde Baraza, accused of fatally shooting mask vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi on June 17 in Nairobi, appeared in court on Tuesday, visibly shaken and in tears, accompanied only by his family.
Strikingly, no representative from the National Police Service was present to support him.
The emotional court appearance has sparked fresh debate on police accountability, with growing calls for officers to reconsider following unlawful orders.
“When you kill, you’ll face it alone.
When you shoot on command, you’ll still go to jail alone.
Those who give the orders will be home with their families while yours visits you in prison,” a viral comment circulating online read.
Baraza is facing murder charges approved by the ODPP. His colleague Duncan Kiprono, who was also at the scene, was released without charges.
The case underscores the personal cost of state-sanctioned violence and the silence that often follows.