Kenyans protest killing of homeless man shot dead by police during curfew

Kenyans have taken to social media to express their anger over the killing of a homeless man in Mathare, Nairobi, popularly known as “Vaite”.

Vaite, said to be a middle-aged man who works at Marikiti market was reportedly shot dead by police officers who were enforcing curfew orders last night. The victim slept on the pavements because of homelessness.

Activist Boniface Mwangi was the first to post about the incident which has attracted over 10,000 tweets and is currently trending top most under #JusticeforVaite.

Kenya Police have shot dead a homeless man in Mathare, Bondeni area. He works as a loader in Marikiti but sleeps in the streets, residents call him Vaite. About 300 people have defied the curfew and are protesting the extrajudicial killing. @FredMatiangi @NPSOfficial_KE @IPOA_KE pic.twitter.com/Qr3ADVM4i4 — Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) June 1, 2020

Heading to Mathare Pangani police station

Retweet this let's match there!

STOP KILLING US

WE'RE TIRED OF DYING IN OUR OWN COUNTRY#JusticeForVaite pic.twitter.com/t2vb02BsEt

— Hon Silas Njura E.G.H (@honsilasnjura) June 2, 2020

The shooting is said to have attracted hundreds of Mathare residents who defied the curfew and social distancing rules to protest the killing of their colleague.

Police authorities and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) are yet to comment on the matter.

The incident comes just two months after police shoot dead a 13-year old in Kiamaiko, Huruma estate, in March this year.

Yassin Hussein Moyo was killed while at a balcony at 7.20 pm by police officers who were enforcing the curfew.