Lawyer Withdraws from Police Brutality Case, Cites Threats from Online Activists
Felix Keaton, who was defending officers Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, confirmed on Wednesday that he had stepped down from the high-profile case, citing serious concerns for his personal and family’s safety.
Barasa and Kiprono were caught on video allegedly assaulting Boniface Kariuki, a Nairobi street vendor, in an incident that has triggered widespread outrage across the country.
The footage, which quickly went viral, has reignited calls for police accountability and reform, particularly among digitally mobilized Kenyan youth.
Keaton said he had received more than 1,000 threatening calls and messages warning him to abandon the case. "In the interest of my personal safety and that of my family, I have taken the painful but necessary decision to cease all legal representation in this matter," he stated.
Read Also: Suspected Thug on Boda Boda Shoots Police Officer Dead in Thika
He further revealed that the threats had extended beyond himself, with family members also receiving disturbing messages.
The two officers are scheduled to appear in court later today.
Their case has become emblematic of the escalating tensions between law enforcement and a growing online youth movement demanding justice, transparency, and an end to police brutality.
