The Body Cam Mandate: A New Digital Shield
The most immediate policy fallout from the trader’s shooting is the renewed push for the 2026 Police Accountability Act.
The “Invisible” Shooter: Because the officer who shot the trader was allegedly unmasked but unidentified by badge number, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is demanding that all officers deployed to residential protests must wear operational, livestreaming body cameras.
The Legislative Push: Members of Parliament from the Nairobi region have drafted a motion to withhold 15% of the National Police Service (NPS) equipment budget until a “full rollout” of body cameras is achieved for urban patrol units.
2. LSK’s Legal Offensive: Suing for the “Huruma Six”
The trader is one of six civilians currently seeking legal redress for injuries sustained during the February 8–10 riots.
Class Action Lawsuit: The LSK has announced it will file a class-action suit against the Ministry of Interior. The suit argues that the use of 7.62mm ammunition (standard for AK-47s) in a densely populated residential zone like Huruma constitutes “gross negligence” and a violation of the Right to Life.
Personal Liability: In a bold move, the petition seeks to hold the Officer in Charge of Station (OCS) at Huruma personally liable for the deployment of live ammunition without a recorded “extreme threat” justification.
3. Restoring the “Ushirikiano” (Cooperation)
The shooting has severed the already thin thread of trust between Huruma residents and the police. To bridge this, a Community-Police Oversight Committee is being piloted in the estate.
The Goal: A decentralized oversight body made up of elders, traders, and IPOA representatives who will have the authority to review local deployment plans before major operations.
The Survivor’s Role: Once discharged, the trader has pledged to lead the Huruma Victims Network, a support group dedicated to documenting every “stray bullet” incident to ensure no more cases are swept under the rug.
