An unarmed man was shot in the head at close range by a masked police officer during protests in Nairobi, according to an Associated Press journalist who witnessed the incident. The victim, believed to be a street vendor, was holding a packet of face masks and walking away from a confrontation with two officers when one opened fire with what appeared to be a shotgun.

The man is currently receiving treatment at Kenya’s largest public referral hospital, where 10 other individuals injured during the demonstration are also being treated. According to a hospital spokesperson, many of the injuries were caused by gunshots.

Kenya’s police issued a statement expressing concern over the shooting and confirmed the arrest of the officer involved. The incident adds to mounting criticism of the country’s law enforcement practices and is expected to fuel further unrest.

The protests erupted following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who was arrested on June 6 after the deputy inspector general of police, Eliud Langat, filed a defamation complaint against him. Ojwang later died while in custody at the Central Police Station.

In response to public backlash, Langat announced on Monday that he would step aside to allow for an independent investigation. Two other officers—Samson Talam, the commanding officer of the station, and his colleague James Mukhwana—were also arrested last week in connection with Ojwang’s death.

What began as a peaceful protest quickly turned chaotic. Motorcycle riders, known locally as boda boda, attacked protesters and pedestrians, stealing phones and bags. In retaliation, protesters set a motorcycle on fire, leading to injuries on both sides.

Kenya has long struggled with systemic police violence. President William Ruto previously pledged to end extrajudicial killings and hold officers accountable, but high-profile cases continue to surface.

Last year, several activists were abducted and killed during demonstrations over a controversial finance bill, further inflaming public dissatisfaction. Those protests eventually led to nationwide calls for President Ruto’s resignation.