Angry Kenyans try to unmask John Kaboi, unidentified KDF shooter exposed in BBC's 'Blood Parliament'

BBC Africa Eye documentary, Blood Parliament, has sparked nationwide outrage after identifying two security officers allegedly involved in the murder of three anti-tax protestors outside Kenya’s Parliament.

The accused include a plainclothes officer from Central Police Station named John Kaboi and an unidentified Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) serviceman.

Kenyans online are seething. The name James Kaboi has shot to the top of trending lists on X (formerly Twitter), as citizens demand accountability and justice.

According to the documentary, Kaboi has been directly linked to the deaths of David Chege and Ericsson Mutisya, two of the young protestors killed during the demonstrations.

BBC’s investigation includes damning video evidence that captures Kaboi shouting the chilling order, “ua!”, Swahili for “Kill!”, while in plain clothes.

Though not seen pulling the trigger himself, he was commanding and gesturing, instructing a uniformed officer to fire at protestors as they scattered from Parliament.

One said, “John Kaboi belongs to the ICC ama Kamiti.”

I have actually sent the ICC this email

I Know they will not respond & this is a copy of it

Dear ICC ;please intervene in Kenya

The BBC documentary is proof that William ruto, the KDF, police, Aden duale , John kaboi et

Spilled Kenyan blood

We want justice
Eric shieni
⚖️⚖️ pic.twitter.com/TjDuDskc4w

— Sholla Ard ?? (@sholard_mancity) April 28, 2025

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was tasked with investigating, but few expressed faith in the institution.

One frustrated user wrote, “Is IPOA still looking for evidence and witnesses when the faces of this criminal police are visible? We have lost trust in all institutions.”

The documentary had amassed way over 2.8 million views and continues to circulate widely as Kenyans attempt to unmask the second man, a KDF officer.

Only his military uniform is visible in the footage, but his identity remains a mystery. However, social media was awash with claims that the unidentified KDF serviceman may have been one who had been arrested at the Embakasi Garrison while masquerading as a soldier.

Willington Kimtai Kipyego was detained for impersonation and trespass at Embakasi Garrison. He had a warrant of arrest after failing to appear in a Makadara court over a criminal case facing him.

The warrant was issued against Kipyego, who has a pending case in court where he was charged with being in possession of a fake firearm.

Kimtai was arrested in 2021 by officers at Ruai Police Station, who took him to court. He absconded in 2022 and has allegedly been on the run since.

That has not stopped public backlash. One Instagram post read, “BBC #BloodParliament has made me so very angry. Yaani, the KDF servicemen are killing us instead of protecting us?”

Print media also responded. The Standard newspaper ran the headline “Killers in Uniform”, showing images of Kaboi and the unknown soldier.

One user applauded, tweeting, “The Standard is doing Lord's work, it’s time to expose corrupt killer politicians.

The BBC did good and Kenyans are happy. Gen Z is a movement, and we won’t stop till we get there!!”

Content creators joined the call to action. In one viral video, a young man urged Kenyans to remember these events when the country votes again in 2027.

The BBC said Monday that Kenyan government pressure led to the cancellation of a Nairobi screening of a documentary from the British broadcaster identifying security officers suspected of shooting protesters dead.

Kenya's clampdown last year on youth-led protests against tax increases left more than 60 people dead, according to rights groups, while dozens were abducted by security forces in the following months.