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...
The year was 2014, July to be precise. I had just concluded chairing the organizing committee of the first and only Toastmasters Speech Fair and Annual Dinner event, a precursor to TEACON. This event had been a bold experiment, expanding on the traditional Toastmasters Annual Dinner by incorporating speech contests into an afternoon and evening affair. It broke many norms and conventions and succeeded thanks to a number of Toastmasters who were ready to support change. One of those Toastmasters, SEMA Toastmasters President Anthony Wang'ondu, DTM soon afterwards sent me an intriguing email. Caren Wakoli, a member of his club, sought to introduce her Ethiopian friend who was seeking connections with Toastmasters across East Africa to form a district. Now, I have a friend in Ethiopia called Yosef Fantu, a member of the Toastmasters Club in Ethiopia. He wrote to me asking to be connected to Toastmasters Kenya so that the clubs in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia can come together to establi...