A Kenyan protester, Jonah Kariuki who was shot at close range by a police officer during recent demonstrations over the alleged death of a blogger in custody is alive but currently in intensive care.
This was made known by his father.
The 22-year-old Kariuki, a hawker like his father, was holding a packet of face masks and is believed to have been caught up in a confrontation with two officers in Nairobi as hundreds of protesters clashed with police.
Police in a statement expressed concern and said the officer had been arrested.
The victim’s father Jonah Kariuki said, his son remained under intensive care after he underwent surgery on Tuesday night. He said the bullet went through his head, just above the ear, but the surgery had been successful and his heart was beating.
“He is on machine support, I have seen he has a heartbeat.
“He was selling masks, it’s not that he is a criminal. I have never heard him steal,” Kariuki said.