Startup Kenya

On the afternoon of 17 June 2025, a shocking video emerged from Moi Avenue, Nairobi. In under 10 seconds, it appeared to capture a summary execution: a man is approached by police, questioned briefly, shoved, and then shot in the head. The officers walk away. The footage spread swiftly across social media and news platforms, prompting outrage and grief. But beyond the emotion lies a stark legal truth: the shooting was not just excessive. It was unlawful. This article outlines the legal standards governing police use of force in Kenya, and why, in this case, the conduct of the officers falls short—fatally so. 1. What the Video Shows The video—recorded on Moi Avenue—unfolds in this sequence: A man is seen selling face masks near a closed shopfront. Protests or unrest are visible in the background. Two uniformed police officers walk into frame, spot the man, and engage him. After a one-to-two second verbal exchange, one officer shoves the man. Almost immediately, the off...

Going to primary school in the boondocks after living in the States for years I was ridiculed heavily for my American accent, pudgy frame, 'Boyz n the Hood' hairstyle, and feather-soft palms. Not wanting to fall into that stereotype I worked hard at fitting in with the crowd. I swam in the river, played football barefoot, shed the weight, and did most of what was expected of a 12 year old boy in rural Kenya (Ok, Egerton University is not that rural anymore, but it was still mashambani in the early 90s). With time my peers accepted me and I no longer stood out like a sore thumb. Sad thing is once I joined a rural high-school, the cycle began all over again. Now, I know most of us have war stories on just how tough high-school life was and what we had to go through; but I'm pretty sure there are few who can top my experience. I did not go to high-school, I went to work in a hard-labour concentration camp where in exchange for labour in the farms and buildings we were given ...