In an important courtroom event, lawyer Felix Kiprono, who is representing Klinzy Masinde Baraza, strongly denied claims that his client shot a rubber bullet during a recent protest in Nairobi. He said that the case is a mistake about who did what.
Baraza, who is 27 years old, is facing serious charges for using a firearm illegally and putting people in danger during a chaotic protest in the city centre last month, where a protester was hurt by a rubber bullet.
Boniface Kariuki, the 22-year-old young man shot while vending masks during Tuesday’s #JusticeforAlbertOjwang protests in Nairobi, however, is alive, his family confirmed.
Kiprono explained in court that Baraza, who is a local activist, was at the protest but did not have any kind of firearm, including rubber bullets.
“My client is a peaceful protester exercising his right to demonstrate,” Kiprono said during a hearing at the Milimani Law Courts.
“The accusation that he shot a rubber bullet is not true and comes from a case of mistaken identity. The bullet was fired by someone else, and we will prove this in court.”
The prosecution claims that Baraza was seen on video holding a device that can shoot rubber bullets during the protest, which turned violent due to clashes between the protesters and police.
However, Kiprono questioned the video’s validity, saying it does not clearly show Baraza shooting. He mentioned that many other people were seen with similar devices, which makes the prosecution’s evidence doubtful.
This case has attracted a lot of attention, with civil rights groups supporting Baraza and calling him a victim of police overreach.
The court approved Kiprono’s request for more time to present forensic evidence and witness testimonies to back up the claim of mistaken identity. The hearing has been postponed to July 10, 2025, while investigations continue.
Felix Kiprono… pic.twitter.com/ySUTzQ6IV4
— KENYA GOSSIP HUB (@kenyasgossips) June 18, 2025
