Lawyer Felix Kiprono Keaton has withdrawn from representing two police officers accused of shooting Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a 22-year-old hawker, during anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District on June 17, 2025.
Kiprono cited receiving over 1,000 threatening messages from online activists, primarily Gen Z, as the reason for his abrupt exit from the high-profile case, which has sparked national outrage over police conduct.
Kiprono, who was defending Police Constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono, announced his decision on Thursday, hours before the officers were scheduled to appear at Milimani Law Courts.
The officers, attached to Kileleshwa Police Station, were interdicted and arrested after viral footage showed one of them allegedly shooting Kariuki at close range while he was selling face masks near Imenti House.
Kariuki, who sustained a head injury from what medics suspect was a rubber bullet, remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) following emergency surgery.
In a statement to the press, Kiprono described the threats as “overwhelming”, stating, “I have received more than 1,000 messages from online activists, many of which were intimidating and threatening. For the safety of my family and myself, I have no choice but to step down.”
His move, angered by Kiprono’s defence of the officers, flooded his social media accounts with messages demanding accountability for Kariuki’s shooting.
Some users praised the lawyer’s withdrawal, while others criticised the tactics used to pressure him, highlighting the growing influence of Kenya’s tech-savvy youth in shaping public discourse.
The case has intensified calls for justice amid Kenya’s history of police brutality. The protests, sparked by the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, saw 16 casualties admitted to KNH, with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to blunt trauma.
Human rights groups, including the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists, have demanded an independent investigation, condemning the “excessive force” used against unarmed protesters.
The U.K. Embassy in Kenya also urged a “swift, independent, and transparent” probe.
As the officers face charges, the withdrawal of Kiprono raises questions about the defence’s next steps.
The National Police Service has confirmed the officers are under investigation by the DCI’s Homicide Team, with ballistic analysis pending to determine the source of the projectile that struck Kariuki.