The National Police Service has clarified that a hawker shot in the head during running battles at the city centre is alive.
The media extensively live streamed the shooting of the mask vendor. The close range shooting immobilized the hawker, who collapsed to the ground.
The hawker, identified as Boniface Kariuki, is currently fighting for his life at Kenyatta National Hospital, as government resources have been mobilized to ensure he pulls through the near-fatal shooting.
The update by police can only mean two things: The police were using rubber bullets. And he collapsed in shock, fearing he had been shot fatally.
The delay in issuing the update was a strategic security move.
Or so it would appear. Given that the authorities was fully aware of what status of the shooting.
The update has given the embattled, under pressure police bosses some reprieve.
With the confirmation that the hawker is alive and that the office who pulled the trigger has been arrested, the police are off the hook.
